Established in 1984, the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF), then known as the Mauritian Wildlife Appeal Fund, was created primarily to raise and administer funds for the conservation, protection and husbandry of the endangered species of the Mauritian wildlife.

The Foundation is a highly successful non-governmental organization and a Registered Charity working in close cooperation with the Mauritian Government’s National Parks & Conservation Service, and the Ministry of.

As an independent and non-profit making organization, the foundation entirely depends upon donations and grants to fund its projects and volunteering to help out with the workload.

Over the years the work of the Foundation has expanded considerably. In 1994, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed between the Mauritian Government and the Mauritian Wildlife Appeal Fund pointing out the objectives of the Foundation:

•	To conserve and manage the indigenous flora and fauna of Mauritius and its territories.
•	To raise and supply funds necessary for the conservation projects undertaken by the MWF and its associate organizations.
•	To co-ordinate and administer these projects.
•	To inform, educate and involve the Mauritian people in this vital work.

By 1995, the Foundation had evolved from a funding and administration organization to a more important hands-on conservation organization. Thus, to better orient the role and functions of the organization and to highlight its very active involvement in conservation projects, it was renamed the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation.

The Foundation is governed by a Council consisting of 8 prominent businessmen, representatives from the National Parks and Conservation Service and the Foundation’s international partners, the main one being the Durrell Wildlife Preservation Trust based in Jersey, Channel Islands. In addition, a number of other scientific associates that fund or support the Foundation, namely the Peregrine Fund (USA), the World Parrot Trust (UK), the New Zealand Department of Conservation and the British Natural History Museum, provide advices to the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation and its council.

Today, the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation is working on a number of different conservation projects in addition to Ile aux Aigrettes. These include:

The Mauritian Kestrel
The Pink Pigeon
Echo Parakeet
Passerine projects: Mauritius Fody, Olive White Eye…
Flora Restoration around Mauritius with National Parks in Conservation Management areas
Round Island restoration (flora and fauna including endangered species)
Rodrigues Restoration and Education Project

The Foundation, thus, operates 6 field stations; 2 endemic plant nurseries; the Captive Breeding Center, Gerald Durrell Endemic Wildlife Sanctuary; a visitor’s information center on Ile aux Aigrettes and a head office in Vacoas.

A full time staff of over 40 Mauritians at all levels of responsibility and up to 12 expatriates are now employed on the various projects. Their work is supported by up to 16 Mauritian and expatriate self-funded volunteers. In addition, up to 5 international postgraduate and 6 Mauritian undergraduate students annually carry out research projects that focus on practical conservation management questions.
The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation is a registered charity No. 2134 and as thus relies entirely on grants and donations to finance its work. If you are interested in helping us please read more in ‘Support the MWF’.