Glimpse of Socotra Island (@nastassia_matsu)
It is doubtful that you knew about the existence of the Socotra archipelago, but its biblical importance, unique species and famous "dragon blood" tree are likely to arouse your interest.
Steeped in mythology and strange plants, Socotra is undoubtedly among the most unique places on Earth. Unfortunately, this island, surrounded by nature and beautiful landscapes, is in a difficult period after a civil war broke out in Yemen in 2015 and the subsequent takeover of key points on the island by UAE military forces.
Socotra is a small archipelago under Yemeni sovereignty consisting of four islands in the Indian Ocean and named after the largest of them. It is located about 340 km south of Yemen and 250 km east of Somalia, with an area of 3,650 sq km and the other islands are small and some uninhabited. In 2008, the archipelago was declared a World Heritage Site. The island is known for its unique biodiversity, which includes many plants and animals not found anywhere else on Earth. According to UNESCO, 37 percent of Socotra's 825 plant species, 90 percent of its reptile species and 95 percent of its land snail species do not exist anywhere else in the world.
A species of dragon blood tree grows on the rocky coastline of Socotra (Photo: ShutterStock, Zaruba Ondrej/Shutterstock.com)
The bottle tree is another plant unique to the Socotra Islands (Photo: ShutterStock, Olga Grinblat/Shutterstock.com)
One of the strangest species found here is the "dragon's blood tree", a tree with an unusual appearance that earned its name because it oozes from its trunk a kind of red blood-like juice. According to local legend, Cain and Abel from the biblical story were born in Sokotera after their parents, Adam and Eve, were expelled from the Garden of Eden. According to local folklore, the dragon's blood tree grew where Cain committed the world's first murder - killing his brother Abel for his jealousy. He poured his blood into the ground and allowed the tree to grow like bloody fertilizer.
Despite the island's distance from civilization, it is not free from the effects of climate change, and a 2007 study predicted that the number of dragon-blood trees could decline by almost half this century as a result of the island's drying up. The dragon's blood tree is known as Dam al-Akhawain in Arabic, which translates to "blood of the two brothers." It is said that even Socotra's own name is derived from the Arabic words "Sox Cotra", which means "shock of dragon's blood".
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Due to its natural beauty, the island is sometimes known as the "jewel of the Gulf of Eden" or the "Galapagos of the Indian Ocean". However, this ideal paradise is in real danger. Socotra has historically been part of Yemen, but in recent years it has been under the influence of UAE military forces. In 2018, the UAE deployed military forces to the island as part of the Saudi leadership's ongoing intervention in Yemen's civil war. Although it was reported that no blood was spilled there, they invaded the island and took over central locations.
More about Dragon Blood Tree:
What will become of the magical island?
The UAE has been accused of planning to turn the island into a "permanent military outpost". Critics also alleged that Emirati leaders tried to smuggle protected plants and animals out of the island for their "evil" purposes. Since there is no sign of the end of the crisis in Yemen, Socotra is stuck at the heart of this conflict. However, despite the troubles facing Socotra and the iconic dragon blood tree, ongoing conservation efforts are still underway that hope to preserve the island's wealth for future generations.
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- Yemen
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- Cain and Abel
- Indian Ocean
