Mohéli · Protected area
Mohéli National Park
Deserted islets, mangroves, seagrass beds and reefs: the first marine park in the Comoros is a model of community-led conservation.
Mohéli · Wildlife
Itsamia, the turtle beach
Every night, green turtles come to lay their eggs on the beaches of Itsamia. A rare spectacle, supervised by the village eco-guides.
On this page 3 sections
A major nesting site
The beaches of Itsamia, at the south-eastern tip of Mohéli, are among the most important nesting sites for green turtles in the western Indian Ocean. The females, which can be more than a metre long, return to lay their eggs on the beach where they were born, several times a season.
How to watch the nesting
The village association organises guided night outings. The guide spots the turtles and tells you when to approach without disturbing them. The rules are simple:
- no white torch or flash, only a red light if the guide allows it;
- stay behind the turtle, at a distance, and in silence;
- never touch the animals or the eggs.
Staying in the village
A few simple bungalows make it possible to sleep on site and live to the rhythm of the village. Ecotourism income funds the monitoring of the beaches, which has helped to reduce poaching sharply. If you are lucky, you will witness the emergence of the hatchlings, which race towards the ocean at nightfall.
Approximate location.
Gallery
