Violet Zoanthids (Zoanthus sansibaricus)

Violet Zoanthids (Zoanthus sansibaricus)

Socotra's biodiversity on land is undisputed and world famous, but it is equally diverse on the coast and in the sea. I am focusing on the terrestrial realm…


Christ's Thorn Jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi)

Christ’s Thorn Jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi)

Christ's Thorn Jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) is very popular fruit with Socotris. I have yet to taste one, as these lovely fruits were out of reach for me to…


Christ's Thorn Jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi)

Christ’s Thorn Jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi)

This Christ's Thorn Jujube (Ziziphus spina-christi) tree is not bearing flowers or fruits, but when in fruit the Socotris will collect what they can as this is…


Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus)

Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus)

What an amazing experience it was to see this rare spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus). I spotted it driving to the next destination on my schedule, and could…


Indian Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus ursinus)

Indian Sloth Bear (Melursus ursinus ursinus)

A brief encounter with the rare Indian sloth bear (Melursus ursinus ursinus) as it quenches its thirst. It's the height of the dry season, with temperature…


Principe sunbird (Anabathmis hartlaubii)

Principe sunbird (Anabathmis hartlaubii)

An encounter with the endemic Principe sunbird (Anabathmis hartlaubii). I arrived in Principe just in time to enjoy the Principe sunbirds building nests or…


Black-throated sunbird (Aethopyga saturata)

Black-throated sunbird (Aethopyga saturata)

Sunbirds are strikingly colorful, and you definitely get associations to the hummingbirds of the New World. Depending on the angle of the light the colors…


Fire-tailed sunbird (Aethopyga ignicauda)

Fire-tailed sunbird (Aethopyga ignicauda)

Driving ever higher, seeing more and more frost from last night, together with larger and larger patches of snow, one might not expect to see such lavishly…