The Seychelles government has implemented strict regulations, including a tagging system for all legally sold nuts, to curb poaching. The Vallee de Mai is now a UNESCO World Heritage site, serving as a sanctuary for the species. Conclusion

Biologically, the Coco de Mer is a master of "island gigantism." The seed can weigh up to 30 kilograms (66 lbs) and takes six to seven years to mature on the tree. The palm itself is dioecious, meaning there are distinct male and female trees. The male catkins are long and phallic, while the female fruits resemble a human pelvis—a striking visual coincidence that led General Charles Gordon to famously claim the Vallee de Mai was the original Garden of Eden and the Coco de Mer was the forbidden fruit.

A tree can take 20 to 50 years to reach sexual maturity, meaning the population cannot recover quickly from loss.

The nuts are highly prized as collectors' items and in traditional medicine, leading to illegal harvesting.