The pink pigeon was once found all over Mauritius but now its habitat is restricted to the wet upland forests of the southwest. Feral cats, monkeys and rats brought about the demise of this tame and vulnerable bird. The wild population of the pink pigeon is currently greater than 250.
By 1974, the fabulous pink pigeon (Nesoenas niayeri) was down to some 24 individuals. Following intensive captive-breeding efforts by among others, legendary ornithologist/conservationist Carl Jones and the JWPT, this gorgeous pigeon is now more plentiful, numbering several hundred birds. A substantial population is held in various captive-breeding centres and fair numbers of captive-bred birds have been introduced into the wild. A very successful rat eradication programme, carried out in one piece of woodland where wild pink pigeons prefer nesting, helped things tremendously. What was once the world's rarest pigeon can now be seen quite easily in its natural habitat at Black River Gorges National Park.
In late 1950's species such as Mauritius kestrel, Pink pigeon and Echo parakeet were in immediate danger of extinction, and although numbers have grown they have not yet won the war of survival. In
The best known representative of Mauritius birdlife was the dodo - a large, plump, flightless dove which found its docility rewarded with extinction in the late 17th century. Although the dodo has
Mauritius has several endemic species of birds - birds which are found nowhere else in the world. Many ornithologists or keen birders wishing to add unique species to their lists will find the long
Most people head for the reserve Forestiere Macchabee Forest Reserve, or Black River Gorges National Park (BRGNP). This mountainous area provides the bulk of the wild walks on the island. The
The Echo Parakeet is the world's rarest parakeet. Since 1985, MWAF has been running a project to help wild parakeet's boost their numbers through captive breeding. In the early 1990s there were only
This bird park, between Tamarin and the turn off down to Flic en Flac, is well landscaped and has good views across the Riviere du Rempart valley. As well as parrot, pheasant and rare pink pigeon,
Since the island's colonization in the 17th century, its thick forest cover has been destroyed by felling and intensive grazing. The secondary growth with which this has been replaced consists mostly