Coco De Mal (Desktop)

The nuts are highly prized as collectors' items and in traditional medicine, leading to illegal harvesting.

For centuries before its source was discovered, the Coco de Mer was a mystery. Because its giant nuts were occasionally found washed up on the shores of the Maldives and Indonesia, sailors believed they grew on a forest of trees at the bottom of the Indian Ocean. This "Coconut of the Sea" was considered a powerful curative and a royal treasure, often fetching prices higher than their weight in gold. It wasn't until 1768 that French explorers located the actual trees in the Vallee de Mai on Praslin, debunking the underwater myth but replacing it with a new awe for its terrestrial reality. Biological Marvels coco de mal

The Seychelles government has implemented strict regulations, including a tagging system for all legally sold nuts, to curb poaching. The Vallee de Mai is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, serving as a sanctuary for the species. Conclusion The nuts are highly prized as collectors' items