Seychelles’ Quirky Colonial-Era Ban on Feeding Tortoises in Public Parks

In the early 20th century, during the British colonial period in Seychelles, an unusual regulation reportedly forbade visitors and locals alike from feeding tortoises in public parks. Though verification of this rule is limited and primarily based on local oral histories and archival mentions, it appears the law aimed to prevent tortoises from becoming ‘overly tame’—a state feared to diminish their natural behaviors and threaten their wellbeing. This reflected a colonial-era attempt to balance the growing popularity of tortoises as symbols of the islands’ unique wildlife with early conservation concerns. While today tortoise feeding is managed informally with guidelines rather than formal bans, this curious historical regulation illustrates the evolving relationship between Seychellois people and their endemic animals. Whether fully enforced or more a well-intended suggestion, the ban captures the quirks of colonial wildlife management and the islands' enduring respect for nature.