Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Giant Tortoise Enclosure at the Seychelles National Botanical Garden with Seychelles President Patrick Herminie, highlighting the unique bond between India and Seychelles. The two leaders also planted a Coco de Mer sapling under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative, reaffirming their shared commitment to biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability.
Key Highlights
✅ PM Modi visited the Giant Tortoise Enclosure with Seychelles President Patrick Herminie.
✅ Prime Minister highlighted the Aldabra Giant Tortoise’s special connection with India.
✅ Both leaders planted a Coco de Mer sapling under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative.
✅ India and Seychelles reaffirmed their commitment to biodiversity conservation and sustainable development.
Victoria, June 28: As part of his three-day State Visit to Seychelles, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Giant Tortoise Enclosure at the Seychelles National Botanical Garden along with President Patrick Herminie, celebrating the enduring friendship between the two nations through shared environmental and cultural initiatives.
During the visit, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the significance of the Aldabra Giant Tortoise, one of the world’s largest and longest-living land animals, which is native to Seychelles and symbolizes the country’s rich biodiversity.
Sharing his experience on social media, the Prime Minister noted that some Aldabra Giant Tortoises have lived for more than two centuries, making them among the oldest living species on Earth.
He also recalled the unique connection between the tortoises and India. In 2014, Seychelles gifted two Aldabra Giant Tortoises to the Alipore Zoological Garden in Kolkata. Subsequently, additional tortoises were presented to the Nehru Zoological Park in Hyderabad, further strengthening wildlife cooperation between the two friendly nations.
During his visit to the enclosure, Prime Minister Modi was seen enthusiastically feeding the giant tortoises and interacting with them. He also visited Jonathan, the 194-year-old giant tortoise, widely regarded as the world’s oldest living land animal, making the occasion particularly memorable.
Joint Tree Plantation Under ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’
The visit also featured a symbolic Joint Tree Plantation Ceremony under India’s ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign, reinforcing the shared commitment of India and Seychelles towards environmental conservation, climate action and sustainable development.
Prime Minister Modi and President Patrick Herminie jointly planted a Coco de Mer sapling, one of the world’s most extraordinary and iconic palm species. The Coco de Mer grows naturally only in Seychelles and is globally renowned for producing the largest seed and the heaviest fruit in the plant kingdom.
The unique palm holds immense cultural and ecological significance for Seychelles and is prominently featured on the country’s national coat of arms, symbolizing its rich natural heritage.
Describing the ceremony as a special moment, Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the plantation represented the collective resolve of both countries to preserve biodiversity and protect the environment for future generations.
He noted that the Coco de Mer stands as a powerful symbol of Seychelles’ unique ecological identity and praised the country’s commitment to conserving its exceptional natural resources.
Strengthening Environmental Cooperation
The plantation ceremony reflected the growing environmental partnership between India and Seychelles, complementing broader cooperation in maritime security, climate resilience, sustainable development and conservation of natural resources.
Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed that both nations share a common vision of promoting environmental stewardship, protecting biodiversity and building a greener and healthier planet.
The visit to the Botanical Garden formed an important cultural and ecological component of Prime Minister Modi’s State Visit, which coincides with the Golden Jubilee of diplomatic relations between India and Seychelles.
Beyond strategic and economic cooperation, the visit underscored the importance of people-to-people connections, cultural exchanges and collaborative efforts to safeguard the environment in the Indian Ocean Region.
The interaction also highlighted India’s continued support for global conservation initiatives and reinforced the shared commitment of both countries to sustainable development and ecological preservation.
Conclusion
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Seychelles National Botanical Garden highlighted the close friendship between India and Seychelles through shared environmental values and wildlife conservation. From celebrating the Aldabra Giant Tortoise’s unique link with India to planting the iconic Coco de Mer under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative, the visit reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to biodiversity conservation, climate action and sustainable development.
