Ile Aux Aigrettes

Ile aux Aigrettes is a islet less than 1km off of the southeast coast. The entire island is a nature reserve dedicated to recreating a natural environment similar to what Mauritius looked like before any people arrived. The extensive rehabilitation of the ecosystem includes weeding, replanting native spices, restoring the forest and reintroducing endemic birds and reptiles known to have once been inhabitants. Pictured above is the endemic and endangered Pink Pigeon which has been brought back from the brink of extinction (in 1991 only 10 birds remained.) Extinct birds which once living in Mauritius include the Dodo, Blue Pigeon, Broad-billed Parrot, Grey Parrot, Mascarene Swan, Mauritius Night Heron, Red Rail, Bourbon Crested Starling and many more.

The giant Aldabra tortoises roam freely. Originally, there were two tortoise species found in Mauritius. Because the animals can live for months without food and water they were the perfect protein for passing sailors to bring on long exertions at sea and are now extinct. The tortoises pictured here are native to the Seychelles but are the closest surviving relatives of the lost species and were introduced to help restore the fragile ecosystem.

The Ornate Day Gecko is another important part of the ecosystem. Endemic to Mauritius, their brightly colored bodies are hard to miss.

Pictured above, the Mauritius Fody is often confused the Madagascar Fody.