Île aux Cochons Island

Île aux Cochons is an uninhabited subantarctic island in the Crozet Archipelago, administered as part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. The island is noted for its seabird and seal colonies and remote, harsh climate.

The island’s shores and rocky slopes provide breeding habitat for large numbers of seabirds and marine mammals, including penguins and various petrel and albatross species. There are no permanent human settlements and landings are tightly regulated for conservation.

Because of its location in the southern Indian Ocean and protected status, Île aux Cochons is visited only by authorised scientific or conservation expeditions and is otherwise left largely undisturbed.

The island lies among the Crozet group in the southern Indian Ocean and is reached only by vessel during occasional research or management missions.

• Access restrictions: Part of the Crozet Archipelago within the French Southern and Antarctic Lands and strictly uninhabited year-round, with access controlled by French authorities.

Access is by multi-day ship from Réunion or other southern Indian Ocean ports, as part of scientific expeditions or government-authorized voyages. Visits require permission from French authorities and are weather-dependent.