In 1962, British citizen Brendon Grimshaw purchased a small uninhabited island in the Seychelles archipelago for $13,000.
At just under 40 years old, he left his position as a newspaper editor to begin a new life on this island, where no one had set foot for 50 years.
Like a modern-day Robinson Crusoe, Brendon met René Lafortin, a resident of a nearby island, and together, they transformed the island.
Over the course of 39 years, they planted 16,000 trees, created nearly 5 kilometers of trails, and reintroduced over 100 giant tortoises, helping to save the species from extinction. Brendon also attracted 2,000 new species of birds to the island, turning what was once a barren piece of land into a true paradise for wildlife. Today, the island is home to two-thirds of the wildlife in the Seychelles.
In 2007, René Lafortin passed away, leaving Brendon alone on the island. Despite receiving a $50 million offer from a Saudi prince to buy the island, Brendon refused, preferring that his island become a national park open to all.
"I don't want the island to become an exclusive resort for the wealthy. It's better for it to be a national park that everyone can enjoy."
Thanks to his efforts, the island was declared a national park in 2008. Brendon passed away on his island in 2012 at the age of 87. This man is a shining example of the values and virtues we should all strive to embody.
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