Adobe Photoshop 6.0 Web Photo Gallery / Each year almost without fail despite the prospect if caught of heavy fines loss of boat or even imprisonment, egg thieves attempt to raid the Socotra colony for its eggs. Raids are undertaken at night when there is no moon normally in October and November. One night in October 2003 while sleeping out on the Suwad Al Janubiyah I encountered one such raiding party, literally face to face, I had to beat a hasty retreat and swim for it. I returned a hour or so later with an armed patrol from the coast guard only to find that the raiders had fled themselves leaving behind their booty - I recovered not only these eggs the next day but a wheelbarrow and several pairs of shoes.