Animals in Tromelin Island

Tromelin Island is a tiny, flat 200-acre island in the Indian Ocean which has hardly any flora or fauna because of its sandy terrain. There are beautiful coral reefs surrounding the island, making it a wonderful area for scuba diving and snorkeling. Access to this island by sea is difficult as there are no harbors, docks or anchorages. However, you can easily access Tromelin Island by air since it has a 3,900 foot landing strip to accomodate small planes. There are no businesses on the island, so you should come properly prepared with enough food, water and medications to survive comfortably during your visit.

Currently, the island serves as a nesting ground for sea turtles and sea birds. Sea birds, also known as marine birds, have quickly adapted to the island. Species of birds that have been identified on the island include the Great Frigate Bird, the Lesser Frigate Bird, the Masked Booby and the Red-footed Booby. These sea birds feed on small creatured found near the edge of the island's waters. Sometimes, they even dive below the shallow waters in search of a meal. Because of the scarcity in food, they have been known to eat each other to survive. These sea birds spend most of their time away from the sea entirely and only migrate to Tromelin Island to lay eggs. As soon as their young are old enough to fly and survive on their own, the sea birds will leave the island in search of a better food source.