Ile aux Aigrettes is a conservation site where much work and effort is being put into preserving the endangered endemic species of the Mauritian wildlife and restoring this island to its natural state. By opening the doors of Ile aux Aigrettes to the public, the Foundation is hoping to integrate the local population and the international visitors into the beautiful and noble work being performed on the island.
The aim of this one and a half hour guided tour is to introduce the visitors to the natural heritage of Mauritius and to provide, through an educational programme, a better understanding of our natural surroundings that will lead to a better appreciation of our natural environment and a desire to protect it.
After a short trip from the mainland’s Embarkation Point across the beautiful bay of Mahébourg in the one of the Foundation’s powerboats, visitors disembark on the island’s wharf. A welcome note and a brief introduction to the codes of conductor to be observed during the tour open up the visit.
After
a cool drink at the welcoming area, visitors proceed to the Visitors
Center, the main information area and gift shop. Through the pictures
and information sheets posted on the walls and boards, visitors can
learn about the history of the island, its past and present inhabitants,
the work that has been done and is being done to restore Ile aux Aigrettes
to its original state, their progress and also learn about the other
projects of the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation. At the Gift shop, visitors
can help support the conservation and preservation projects of the Foundation
by purchasing brochures, tee shirts, caps, plush animals and other souvenirs.
From
this particular spot, visitors can observe the beautiful Pink Pigeon,
a species of bird endemic to Mauritius, in the wild and learn about
its biology, habits and the conservation efforts that have brought its
population to a much reasonable number. Introduced on the island in
1994, the population of this fragile bird is still being monitored although
the number now goes beyond 400 compared to less than 10 in the early
1970s.
In
a one-hectare fenced plot, visitors can approach the Aldabran Giant
Tortoise. This species has been introduced on the island to replace
the two, now extinct species of Giant Tortoises that once lived on the
island and to simulate the impact of browsers on the island’s
flora. The endemic species were herded on to visiting ships as a source
of fresh meat for the long voyages on the Great Spice Route.
On
that particular spot, visitors can take pictures of an impressive restored
cannon, a reminder of the British occupation of the island as a military
base during World War II. The cannon was brought on the island to fool
the Mauritian people into believing that it would protect the mainland
from attack. Ironically, the artillery piece points towards the main
island itself.
This
typical coastal forest, once the habitat of the Dodo, is the last remnant
of a dry Ebony-rich forest that once covered large areas of coastal
Mauritius. The forest is characterized by Ebony (Diospyros egrettarum)
trees as well as species such as the Gastonia, Eugenia and Ficus. Reaching
about 7-8m high, with a dense canopy, the forest offers cover and protection
to plants and animals against strong winds and cyclones. The Ebony is
an important link in the ecosystem as it provides cover and food for
endemic fauna such as the Ornate Day Gecko and the Pink Pigeon.
Ruins
of a limekiln bear testimony of the French presence on the island. The
limekiln has contributed widely to the degradation of the island’s
wildlife, as much wood was used to fuel the kiln and coral was mined
as a source of lime.
The
Mascarene Islands of the Indian Ocean (Mauritius, Rodrigues &
La Reunion) have suffered the disappearance of a number of unique
species whose influence would have been considerable upon their relative
flora and fauna. A project was conceived to realise extinct creatures
in three-dimensional form using the most thorough archival research
and forensic techniques to extrapolate from the meagre remains that
still exist.