In 1962, newspaper editor Brendon Grimshaw bought the uninhabited island of Moyenne in the Seychelles, where no human had set foot for 50 years, for 13 thousand dollars.
He began to live on the island like a real Robinson, taking with him a companion from the locals. His name was "Rene Lafortin".
Brendon and Rene started to equip the island. Over 39 years, Brendon and Rene planted 16 thousand trees with their own hands and built approximately 5 km of road.
In 1996 he wrote a book about himself and the island called Grain of Sand. A documentary of the same name was made about Grimshaw and the island in 2009.
In 2007, Rene Lafortin died and Brendon was left alone on the island. He was 81 years old. During his lifetime, he attracted 2000 new bird species to the island and introduced more than a hundred giant tortoises to the world, which were about to become extinct, including the Seychelles.
Thanks to Brendon's efforts, the once deserted island is now home to two-thirds of the Seychelles fauna. An abandoned piece of land turned into a real paradise.
A few years later, the prince of Saudi Arabia offered Brendon Grimshaw $50 million for the island, which Brendon politely declined.
“I don't want the island to become a favorite vacation spot for the rich. Let it be a national park where everyone and animals can live and have fun freely."
He finally achieved his wish. In 2008, the island was indeed declared a "National Park". Grimshaw was the sole resident of the island until his death in July 2012.
~Credit to original poster (unknown)
