The Socotra Archipelago is a UNESCO World Heritage property celebrated for biodiversity and endemism. Its landscapes range from limestone plateaus and granite mountains to dunes, lagoons, caves, coral-rich coasts, and dry forests.
Its best-known symbol is the dragon’s blood tree, but the island also supports many unusual plants, birds, reptiles, and marine species. Socotri culture has developed through centuries of island life, trade, pastoral traditions, fishing, and a unique language heritage.
Scientists first reached Socotra in 1880 when Scottish botanist Isaac Balfour collected around 500 plants, of which over 200 species were new to science. To date over 835 vascular plants have been recorded from the Archipelago, of which 308 are found nowhere else on Earth. Meaning an impressive 37% of plants are endemic; only Galapagos, New Caledonia and Hawaii have higher numbers. Because of such high diversity and endemism in plants, the islands have been declared a UNESCO World Natural Heritage and UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve. The flora of oceanic islands are often particularly rich in species and show a high degree of endemism. Here is thanks to the long geological isolation and its harsh climate. It is believed that some of the strange-looking plants are in fact ancient remnants from a much larger land mass which have been preserved here as a result of the fact the Hagghier mountains have not been totally submerged for several millions years
It is also a host point for many migrating and breeding birds of over 45 species such as Flamingos, Cattle Egrets, Reef Herons, Gulls. A very visible part of the bird population is the Egyptian Vultures, with Socotra having the highest globally recorded density. There are 190 species of butterfly and 600 species of insects both with high proportion of endemics (approx 90%). The reptilian fauna is also very rich with 19 out of a total of 22 species regarded as endemics. Domestic goats, sheep, cows and camels are common across the island. Bats are the only mammals native to the island, with a lucky few being able to spot the elusive Civet cats that stalk the island looking for prey