Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, 27 June visited the Giant Tortoise Enclosure at the Seychelles National Botanical Garden in Victoria alongside Seychelles President Dr. Patrick Herminie, spotlighting the Aldabra Giant Tortoise's enduring connection with India and the two nations' shared commitment to biodiversity.

The Aldabra Giant Tortoise's India Connection

Modi drew attention to a little-known thread in the India-Seychelles relationship — the gifting of Aldabra Giant Tortoises to Indian zoos. 'In 2014, two of them were gifted to the Alipore Zoo in Kolkata. A few years later, Seychelles gifted a few more tortoises to Hyderabad Zoo,' he wrote in a post on X.

The Aldabra Giant Tortoise is native to Seychelles and is among the largest and longest-living land species on Earth, with some individuals reportedly witnessing over two centuries of history. During the enclosure visit, Modi was seen feeding the giant tortoises, including the celebrated 194-year-old Jonathan — recognised as the world's oldest living land animal.

Joint Tree Plantation Under 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam'

The two leaders also participated in a Joint Tree Plantation Ceremony at the Botanical Garden under India's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' (One Tree in Mother's Name) initiative. Modi and President Herminie planted a sapling of the Coco de Mer — a palm tree found exclusively in Seychelles, renowned globally for producing the largest seed and the heaviest fruit in the plant kingdom.

The Coco de Mer holds deep cultural significance in Seychelles: it is featured on the country's coat of arms and is widely celebrated by its people. Modi described the ceremony as 'a very special ceremony, highlighting a shared commitment to a greener planet.'

Shared Vision for Environmental Conservation

The visit underscored what both governments frame as a convergence on environmental stewardship. 'India and Seychelles share a common resolve to safeguard biodiversity, promote environmental stewardship and leave behind a greener, healthier planet for future generations,' Modi said in his X post.

This comes amid India's broader push to deepen partnerships with Indian Ocean island nations, where climate vulnerability and biodiversity protection are central policy concerns. The 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' initiative, launched domestically, is now being extended symbolically to bilateral engagements — a signal of its growing diplomatic salience.

What the Visit Signals

Modi's Seychelles visit is part of a wider Indian Ocean diplomatic outreach. The botanical garden engagements — combining wildlife diplomacy, cultural symbolism, and an environmental pledge — reflect New Delhi's strategy of anchoring bilateral ties in people-to-people and conservation narratives alongside strategic interests. The tortoise gifting history, stretching back to 2014, adds historical texture to what both sides describe as a 'special friendship.'

With the Coco de Mer sapling now planted and the tortoise connection reaffirmed, the next steps in the India-Seychelles partnership are expected to emerge from the broader outcomes of Modi's state visit.