Pristine Mauritius of Mauritius

Imagine Mauritius 371 years ago

Before people lived in Mauritius

Nik Cole • Prior to 1638 much of the island was covered in forest

Pristine Mauritius

• The forests supported 22 types of land bird, 12 endemic - • 671 species of plant 46% (endemic) found only in Mauritius only found in Mauritius, such as the dodo

• Except for bats, Mauritius never used to have mammals

There were no:

• TheMauritius forests had also 23 supporteddifferent types endemic of , reptiles 22 foundfound only in Mauritiusnowhere else in the world

1 • With no terrestrial mammals, Mauritius was a reptile and bird dominated island

• REPTILIAN PREYPREDATORSSEEDHERBIVORES forDISPERSERS other oflarger birds, reptiles &reptiles POLLINATORS and and birds invertebrates maintainingallowing habitat the natural regeneration habitat through browsing & grazing

• Whilst the forests supported the reptiles and birds • Reptiles helped1638 to people support settled the forests in Mauritius • They all dependedand the forests upon eachwere otherrapidly to destroyed live

Many from other countries • SomeThe loss thatwere of were forestscompletely lost and from lostthe the introductionfrom mainland Mauritius managedof animalsand because to from survivetheyoutside were onMauritius endemicthe surrounding caused to Mauritius the islands, loss - EXTINCTof where many thereptiles 1872Today177318351935 <2% disturbance was not as severe

Reptiles

Birds Mammals

Round Island Round Island

• One of the few places not invaded by rats - the worst • TheBecame island the also last supports location onhealthy Earth populations to find: of other invasive in the World endemic and native reptile species KeeledGunthers scaled gecko, boa, Phelsuma Casarea dussumieriguentheri

Ornate day gecko, Phelsuma ornata Bojer’s , Gongylomorphus bojerii

HOME TO A REPTILE COMMUNITY THAT USED TO OCCUR THROUGHOUT MAURITIUS

Durrell’sTelfairs nightskink,Bouton’s gecko, Leiolopisma skink, Nactus telfairii durrelli boutonii

2 Other Islands of importance Other Islands of importance

Orange-tail skink

Ilot Vacoas Bojer’s skink Lesser night gecko

• With the threats that caused the loss of the Preventing further extinction reptiles removed from some of the islands

• MauritianWith most Wildlife of the Mauritian Foundation reptiles found • Nationalon just one Parks or a and few Conservation tiny islets the Service risk of • Durrellextinction Wildlife is very Conservation high Trust

• Restoring islands – removing introduced species, such as rats from islands

• We have started moving endangered reptiles back to islands where they used to occur

• Reducing the risk of extinction We are also planKeel-scaled to restore boa other species in the next few years Durrell’s night geckoGuenther’s geckoTop predator of • Gunners Quoin Mauritius Ilot Vacoas Bojer’s skink, once widespread throughout the SE, restricted to Ilot Vacoas

Telfair’sOrange-tail skink, skink, once once widespread, restricted Lesser night gecko •to IleRoundFlat aux Island FouquetsIsland

Continue to restore other islands and replace Completely their lost wildlife • Ile aux Aigrettes harmless to us

3 Black River Gorges National Park Black River Gorges National Park • Just as important for Mauritian reptiles • Just as important for Mauritian reptiles

Upland forest day gecko Macchabé skink Lowland forest day gecko

Black River Gorges National Park Like the reptiles on the islands • Just as important for Mauritian reptiles • They serve a major role in the ecosystem

Ornate day gecko Blue-tailed day gecko

Like the reptiles on the islands Like the reptiles on the islands

• They serve a major role in the ecosystem • They serve a major role in the ecosystem

4 We are working to protect these reptiles, • Bouton’s skink but we have many challenges

• Native - not restricted to Mauritius • Found on several islands – Lost from most of Mauritius – Poste Layfayette – Cap Malheureux

Introduced animals are the greatest threat, DestructionDiscarded of habitatlitter is isa majoralso a problemmajor threat especially if they reach the islands

Open fires, improper BBQ use and littering destroy habitat

Mauritian reptiles are part of the Nation’s Heritage

The future survival of these unique animals is The Rare Campaign dependent upon your “Miss-Ti” as the mascot awareness and help in Carries the colours of the flag! preventing extinction

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