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Île aux Aigrettes

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Introduction

This 27ha coralline limestone islet is situated in the lagoon 800m offshore of the mainland to the South East of Mauritius.

After a 250 year of history of concessions, leases and sporadic human interference causing much habitat degradation, the island was declared a Nature Reserve in 1965. In 1987 when exotic weeds were manually removed from an area the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation acquired it on long term lease for conservation purposes.

Conservation
Though it became very degraded through the action of man, the island possesses a unique flora representing the last remnant of a coastal forest that once surrounded much of Mauritius. Of all the coralline islets in the Mascarenes, Île aux Aigrettes has the best-preserved indigenous vegetation cover. It is also a refuge for many rare plants such as Bois de boeuf (Gastonia mauritiana), Bois d’ébène (Diospyros egrettarum), Bois de fer (Sideroxylon boutonianum) and Bois de chandelle (Dracaena concinna), as well as for some endangered birds such as the Pink Pigeon and the Mauritius Kestrel.

The aim is to restore Île aux Aigrettes to a condition much as it was before man landed in Mauritius with all the flora and fauna components necessary for it to be a self-sustaining indigenous ecosystem. This will serve as a model for ecological restoration work elsewhere.

Since 1985, MWF has initiated a rehabilitation programme to protect and restore the indigenous vegetation of the island. Weeding programmes and the eradication of rats,  completed in 1991, have greatly accelerated the recovery of the island.

A programme to try to eliminate the Indian House shrew (Suncus murinus) has been implemented since 1999. This has proved more complex than expected and much remains to be done before it is successful. The feasibility of eradicating Indian wolfsnakes (Lycodon aulicum) and Giant African land snails (Acatina fulica) are being investigated.

Over 30 Mauritius Kestrels were introduced to the island between 1990 and 1994. Many of these flew across to the mainland and are now found in the East Coast Mountains.

Related issues

The Mauritius kestrel

Phelsuma species

P. cepediana
P. ornata 
 
  

© Copyright 1991-2004 Phelsumania - Emmanuel Van Heygen