Predictions of a sharp decline in visitors to the islands and Silhouette in particular have fortunately, so far, proved to be wrong. The project has seen a steady stream of visitors who have kept us busy – so the delay in sending out this newsletter is not because we have been sitting under the palm trees, drinking beer, rather that we have been kept on our toes these last six months. An added bonus came our way because of the troubles in the Indian Ocean – political upheaval in Madagascar and the dreaded pirates from Somalia meant that we had unexpected visits from a number of cruise ships. This was also a surprise chance for some parents of adopted tortoises to visit the project and see how their once little tortoises have grown.

It seems such a long time since we sent out a Tortoise Newsletter - please accept our apologies for this lack of news.
In December Josephine and Adam (Dipsochelys hololissa) produced 5 more hatchlings, bringing the total number of their offspring up to 20 and the total number of baby tortoises up to 150.

The onset of the south-east tradewinds in May brought us some relief from the blazing heat and humidity of the doldrums.  What had seemed like a labour of love, collecting fresh leaves for 137 baby tortoises twice each day, finally returned to a normal daily activity.

Adam, Christopher and Stan, the three largest males, have finally realized that the mating season is now over and that the females are no longer responding to their love songs. Phoenix, the youngest of the Dipsochelys hololissa males has suddenly discovered that he needs to approach the females from behind if they are to take notice of his noisy advances.  For two years he has been sidling up to the ladies and making advances head to head! Having learnt his lesson he must now wait until next season to make a real impression.

Alida, who must hold some sort of record for tortoise fertility, surprised us in March when she laid a clutch containing only one fertile egg. This was compensated for by the next clutch of 13 eggs of which only one was infertile!

Our Dipsochelys arnoldi female tortoise, Alida, came to the rescue this month with the first clutch of eggs for this season. She has rescued us from the embarrassing situation of having more requests for the adoption of baby tortoises than babies to adopt.

The rush of adoptions came as a result of visits to Silhouette by the cruise ships Hebridean Spirit, Island Sky and Le Ponant. Our inclusion on these and other voyages around the Indian Ocean as lecturer/guides gave us the opportunity to promote the "Seychelles Giant Tortoise Conservation Project". The guests on these cruises were very generous and we were overwhelmed by their support. Indeed, Hebridean Spririt brought back the Ferriers and the Frosts, adoptive parents from last year who had never seen their babies as the ship had been unable to land passengers due to the heavy swell.  On board also was Stephen Cork who came to visit Noyna and see how she had grown in a year. Noyna performed so well that Stephen adopted another baby and named it Boulesworth - a pun may be intended.

The close of 2004 has been very dramatic and we are grateful for everyone's concern. Fortunately for us the tsunami had spent most of its force before reaching the western Indian Ocean. Seychelles experienced some flooding and damage to roads and bridges on Mahé but no loss of life. On Silhouette there was a notable tidal surge which continued for several hours, but it was not enough to breach the beach crest. This was just as well as removing all the tortoises to higher ground would have been quite a job.