Socotra: The Strangest, Most Enchanting Island You Never Heard of

We here up in da' Salad like things of a slightly weirder bent so when my physical therapist mentioned a forest in Yemen I had to investigate further. Turns out there is a forest in Yemen (more to come on that later) but in my Internet sleuthing I kept on coming across references to an island off of Yemen called Socotra. Further research revealed this island to be a very special place indeed.

Six million years of isolation mean that this archipelago is third behind the Galapagos and Hawaii in terms of endemic species and it is the most isolated piece of continentally derived land on the planet. While there are number of unique reptiles, birds, snails, and even a terrestrial crab which is the top predator of the island- the island is most notable for its unique flora such as the Dragon's Blood Tree pictured at the start of the post (the sap is red like blood). But other plants are no less evocative looking and are why the island is often referred to as the most alien place on earth.

Desert Rose. Adenium obesum

Greek historical texts allude to a strange bestiary that accompanied the unique flora until relatively recently. This anecdotal evidence mentions giant snakes, lizards, and crocodiles inhabiting the isles as well as three species of giant land tortoise. One text mentions the fat of one of the giant lizards was often used as a good substitute for olive oil. Although we lack direct fossil evidence for this "land of dragons" perhaps exploration of the islands extensive karst topography will reveal bones of these mega-reptiles hidden in some deep caverns.

Copywrite The Mysterious Socotra Island. http://www.funonthenet.in/articles/Socotra-Island.html

 Of course just looking at the dry subtropical landscape and one can not help but imagine giant reptiles swarming around on it. How these reptiles lived one can not help but imagine. Were the lizards herbivorous, like giant skinks maybe? or possibly monitor lizards? Or perhaps the lizards and crocodiles were not herbivorous at all but feasted on the abundant crabs/snails/inverts of the islands?

The islands human inhabitants have their own ancient unwritten language and are derived from Arabian and African peoples. They have a long history of herding on the island but have adapted to the island in such a way that traditional herding practices do not greatly diminish the islands unique flora. However the loss of traditional pastoral practices, such as culling male goats, jeopardizes native flora.

Recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site, the island just recently opened up for tourism.
One wonders if the island, so isolated and pristine, which has been colonized by many who ultimately leave- may have met its match in ecotourism.

Pertinencia

(Damme, Banfield) 2011. Biodiversity Conservation in the Arabian Peninsula Zoology in the Middle East. Past and present human impacts on the biodiversity of Socotra Island
www.kasparek-verlag.de/.../031-088%20VanDammeBanfield.pdf

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