Arts teacher donates painting to ICS |24 November 2020

The painting that Ms Serret has donated to ICS

Beryl Serret, an Arts teacher and Eco-Schools leader from Anse Royale primary school, has donated one of her paintings to the Island Conservation Society (ICS). Ms Serret said that she has a passion for nature and most of her artworks are based on nature but most often focus on landscapes and seascapes.

"I have over ten years’ experience in the profession but four years as the Eco-Schools leader, responsible for the implementation of the Seychelles' Eco-Schools programme in Anse Royale primary school. Over the past few years, we have done so well for the Eco-Schools award. I recently developed a keen interest in Aride Special Reserve following a series of interactive class presentations on ICS and its conservation programmes delivered at the school,” she said.

The painting depicts the diverse reptiles found on Aride Island which Ms Serret exclaimed to be fascinating.

Ms Serret’s painting depicts the variety of reptiles that inhabit Aride, such as the Bronze-eyed Gecko (Ailuronyx seychellensis), Sucker-tailed Gecko (Urocotyledon inexpectata), Gardiner’s Burrowing Skink (Pamelaescincus gardineri) and the Wright’s Skink (Trachylepis wrightii). The Wright’s Skink (Trachylepis wrightii) is named after Edward Perceval Wright, an Irish naturalist who visited Seychelles in 1867. The Wright’s Skink is only found on rat-free seabird islands such as Aride where they benefit from the large numbers of seabirds, feeding on discarded fish and squid, fallen or unattended eggs, dead birds and even the droppings of nestlings. Most skinks are small and this is one of the largest species in the world. Most species are striped or otherwise patterned, but Wright’s Skink is a more uniform metallic brown in colour, with barely discernable longitudinal stripes.

Other reptiles such as the Seychelles Wolf Snake (Lycognathophis seychellensis), Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricate), Aldabra Giant Tortoise (Aldabrachelys gigantean), and Black Mud Terrapin (Pelusios subniger) can also be found on the island. The Seychelles Wolf Snake is a non-venomous snake which can grow to about 1 metre in length. It is one of the two snake species endemic to Seychelles and listed an Endangered by the IUCN. There are two distinct colours: yellow phase or dark phase. Yellow individuals have a yellowish-brown back, decorated with faint dark spots and a bright yellow underside. Dark phase snakes are grey or blackish with dark spots on the back and a white underside covered with small dark spots. It has a small head and conspicuous, fairly large, coppery-gold eyes.

Ms Serret has this final message to share to all: “My aim is to promote the conservation of our environment to the younger generation, which is one of the Sustainability themes of the Seychelles' Eco-Schools programme. I am confident that they will learn to appreciate our islands more including the diverse species that deserve to be protected and thereafter share the same to all in their community.”

ICS takes this opportunity to wish Ms Serret all the best in her endeavours.

The painting will feature on the Aride website currently under construction. For a comprehensive description of the habitats and species found on Aride, kindly obtain a copy of the Aride Island Tread lightly book from our Head office at Pointe Larue or from local bookshops.

Contributed by ICS