The Socotra Archipelago, poised between the Gulf of Aden and the Arabian Sea, is a place of rare beauty and extraordinary biodiversity. Organised by the DNHG, and led by environmental expert Ahmed Saeed Suleiman, our trip to Socotra was an unparalleled opportunity to explore a unique natural world. Aside from its rich marine life, Socotra is home to 12 endemic bird species, 28 endemic reptiles and over 300 endemic plants.
The island of Socotra is famed for its stunning landscapes and unique flora and fauna resulting from its geological past. There is indeed a marked variety in topography and geological features on Socotra. There are Precambrian granite outcrops, Palaeocene–Eocene limestone plateaux with steep cliffs and large cave systems and Quaternary coastal sandy regions. During our short trip with the Socotra Dream, we were able to sample them all.
Socotra had been a bucket-list destination for many years since the island was practically closed to tourists for over a decade due to the raging war in Yemen. So, when, 13 years after its last trip there, DNHG announced a new expedition to the island, people flew from all over the world to take advantage of the long-awaited opportunity. It felt like a reunion!
Over 40 students collected environmental DNA (eDNA) samples in the Socotra Archipelago World Heritage site, as part of the global