North Island, Seychelles

North was one the first Seychelles islands to be visited. An expedition in 1609 by Alexander Sharpeigh the British East India Company reported that the island had a large population giant land tortoises.
From 1826 until the 1970s, North Island was owned by the Beaufond family from Réunion. During this time the island was a plantation for growing fruit and spices, as well as producing guano, fish oil and copra. After the plantation was sold in the 1970s, the island fell into disuse, being taken over by feral animals and alien species weeds.