Socotra, an isolated island in the Indian Ocean off the coast of Yemen, is often called "the most alien-looking place on Earth"—and for good reason159. With its bizarre landscapes, endemic species, and legendary dragon blood trees, Socotra has fascinated scientists, travelers, and storytellers for centuries.
Socotra is the largest of four islands in the Socotra Archipelago, stretching about 132 km in length and 42 km at its widest1. Its geography is strikingly diverse, featuring sandy beaches, rugged mountains, limestone caves, and arid plateaus25. The island’s isolation—both geographically and evolutionarily—has led to the development of a unique ecosystem. About 37% of its 825 plant species, 90% of its reptile species, and 95% of its land snails are found nowhere else on Earth3579.
This biodiversity has earned Socotra the nickname “the Galápagos of the Indian Ocean” and recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage Site39. The island is home to over 700 endemic species, including rare birds, reptiles, and an astonishing variety of marine life47.
Perhaps the most iconic and mysterious resident of Socotra is the dragon blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari)6810. These trees, with their umbrella-shaped canopies, look like something from a prehistoric or alien landscape. Their unique form is not just for show: the dense, upward-reaching branches help the trees capture moisture from fog and clouds, a vital adaptation to Socotra’s arid climate8. This process, known as horizontal precipitation capture, allows the dragon blood tree to inject more water into the soil than the island receives as rainfall, supporting the island’s fragile ecosystem8.
The tree gets its name from the dark red resin that seeps from its trunk when cut, resembling blood61011. This resin, called "dragon’s blood," has been prized since ancient times as a dye, medicine, varnish, and even in rituals and cosmetics1011. Local legend attributes the tree’s origin to a mythical battle between two brothers, whose blood gave rise to the first dragon blood tree6.
Dragon blood trees are considered an “umbrella species” because they support dozens of other organisms, from geckos to flowering plants, by providing shade and moisture8. Many of the trees on Socotra are hundreds of years old, but their future is uncertain. The island’s already harsh climate has become more extreme due to climate change, with prolonged droughts and devastating cyclones threatening the survival of young saplings8. In 2015, two cyclones destroyed about 30% of the island’s trees in just one week8.
Attempts to grow dragon blood trees outside Socotra have failed, underscoring the island’s unique environmental conditions and the tree’s dependence on them10. Without a new generation of trees, the current population—many of which are centuries old—may not survive into the future8.
Socotra’s alien appearance isn’t limited to the dragon blood tree. The island is also home to the bottle tree (desert rose), giant succulents, the rare Socotran pomegranate, and the cucumber tree, all of which are endemic and adapted to the island’s harsh environment91011. Its animal life is equally unique, including the Socotran chameleon and the world’s highest concentration of Egyptian vultures1011.
Socotra’s isolation has made it a living laboratory of evolution, where plants and animals have adapted in extraordinary ways to survive. Its landscapes—ranging from misty mountains to arid plains—are as varied as its species, offering a glimpse into a world untouched by time79.
Socotra stands as one of the planet’s last great wildernesses, a place where evolution has run wild and life has taken on forms seen nowhere else. The island’s dragon blood trees, with their ancient, otherworldly presence, are both a symbol of Socotra’s uniqueness and a warning of its fragility in a changing world810.