Most people would struggle to place it on a map, but Socotra is
one of the world's last unspoiled island chains -- an
archipelago off the coast of Yemen that has wildlife so diverse
it has been described as the Galapagos of the Indian Ocean. Its
isolation lends Socotra a bucolic serenity and has blessed it
with an array of unique animals and plants. A third of Socotra's
825 plant species, 90% of its reptile species and 95% of its
land snail species do not occur anywhere else in the world,
according to UNESCO, which added the archipelago to its World
Heritage List for its natural beauty. German photographer
Claudius Schulze had been fascinated by Socotra since reading
about it in a magazine, but he was led there by an old proverb.
"I had a project that didn't work out and we have a proverb in
Germany about being 'ready for the island' if you are exhausted
-- so I thought it was time to go to Socotra," he said. "I
started looking up flights and applying for a visa straight
away." When Schulze, 27, finally made