In 1992 the island was purchased and a conservation program was introduced to protect nesting sea turtles and maintain the existing populations of endemic land birds.

Cousine Island is a breeding ground for seabirds and has a population of transplanted Aldabra giant tortoises.

[1] The island has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area because it supports populations of the Seychelles warbler, magpie-robin and fody, as well as substantial breeding colonies of wedge-tailed shearwaters, white-tailed tropicbirds, lesser noddies and white terns.

[2][3] In order to finance the restoration project a small exclusive bungalow resort was built on Cousine.

There are four beachfront French Colonial style villas (maximum number of guests allowed is 10) on the island.