Do you know Moyyenne Island?
It is a small island of 9.9 hectares in the Seychelles. Yes, it is small but hides a great story: the story of Brendon Grimshaw, an inspiring character in the story.
The history of Moyyenne Island
Moyenne Island was abandoned from 1915 to 1960 when Brendon Grimshaw acquired it for $ 10,000. This island had been uninhabited until then. No human being had set foot on her for more than 50 years. Grimshaw left the job and moved there forever. For what purpose? With the one to take care of it, protect her and ... yes! Turn it into one of the smallest national parks.
Once he set foot on the island, he hired a partner, a native named René Lafortin, who helped him over the years to turn his dream into reality. They were almost 40 years of joint work. They plant more than 16,000 trees with their own hands and built almost 5km of trails. Thanks to the effort of these two men, the island that was deserted today houses two thirds of the Seychelles fauna turning an abandoned land into a real paradise on earth.
Thanks to their work and effort, they managed to attract 2,000 new species of birds and introduced more than a hundred giant turtles (an animal that was on the verge of extinction).
A story to inspire
Grimshaw was under 40 when this adventure began. He decided to give up his work as a newspaper editor and start a new life with a clear objective:
"I don't want the island to become the favorite holiday place of the rich. Better that it is a national park that everyone can enjoy."
So it was, since in 2018 (6 years after his death) the island was declared a natural park and can be visited as part of organized trips.
