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phelsuma madagascariensis grandis, phelsumen, genus, reptilia, gecko, gekko, gekkonidae, gekkota, reptiles, biology, ecology, biogeography, evolution, species dispersal, adaptive radiation, rodrigues, aldabra, captive care, laticauda, vitamines, green, day gecko, lighting, palm, breviceps, modesta primary forest ampasindava madagascar masoala, mangabe, nosy be, national park RNI lokobe, ankarafatsika,phelsuma, phelsuma laticauda, madagascar, daygeckos, daygecko, mauritius, seychelles, mascarenes, reunion, réunion, comoro, comoros, lineata, cepediana, phelsuma guimbeaui, phelsuma andamanensis, phelsuma abbotti, laticauda, madagascariensis, phelsuma lineata, serraticauda, guimbeaui, phelsuma laticauda, phelsuma madagascar, daygecko, daggekko, taggecko |
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Named
for the ship whose captain discovered the island in 1768
Curieuse is less than 1 km north of Praslin. Today covered in
lush vegetation and huge takamaka trees, it once was covered
with coco-de-mer palms. In an attempt to harvest them the island
was set afire in 1771 and virtually all were destroyed. From
1833 to 1965 Curieuse housed lepers from Mauritius and the
doctor's house is now the home of the island's warden. As a
National Park it is home to common land birds and some seabirds.
There is a program in place to breed giant tortoises here for
reintroduction to the granitic islands. From 1833 until 1965,
Curieuse was the site of a leper colony, the ruins of which are
still standing. Today, the island and the waters surrounding it
make up Curieuse Marine National Park. The only inhabitants are
the island manager and a few rangers.