Nature is prized above mass tourism in Seychelles

Yan Coquet comforting an Aldabra giant tortoise on Cousin Island, a nature reserve island managed by Nature Seychelles, a national environmental NGO.

In a shady patch along a pristine white beach on Mahe Island, a radio spits out reggae and snapper sizzles on the barbecue, as Seychelloise Nareen tops up her rum and Coke on time off from her job aboard a luxury yacht.

Her family is spending the weekend at the beach where a couple dipping their feet into the turquoise waters off in the distance are the only foreign tourists in sight.