Mauritius.Holidays.IO

17/04/2023

09/04/2022

Discover how the Mauritius kestrel, a rare bird of prey, has rebounded thanks to international efforts in its tiny island nation home.

21/02/2022

25/01/2022

View from Ile aux Aigrettes of the lagoon Grand Port

29/12/2021

𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗘𝗟𝗗

This week's 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗹𝗱 features text from Roberto Cesar, Senior Reptile Staff (MWF) and photo by Pratiksha Bappoo, Round Island Warden (MWF).

𝗣𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝟮: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘀

𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘀

Tortoise morphometrics (body measurements) of the adult Aldabra tortoises (𝘈𝘭𝘥𝘢𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘺𝘴 𝘨𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘢) is carried out bi-annually. The exercise aims to monitor the health condition and age structure of the population.

𝗠𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲

Adult morphometric measurements require good organisation to make the process as comfortable and efficient as possible so that the tortoise is not stressed while it is being handled. Evidently, the morphometric process can be stressful for some tortoises as they are lifted from the ground for weight measurement and turned at a 90° angle when measuring their plastron. As such, we rely on a team of about six to eight people to manipulate the very large individuals. Measuring tortoises starts at sunrise or in the late afternoon, so that it is not stressful for the tortoises and tiring for the team members, as it can get very hot during the middle of the day.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀

The team selects an area and takes the morphometrics of all tortoises found in that specific area. Once a tortoise is spotted in the area, all the team members work together to get all the data in an efficient manner. Firstly, the weighing scale and pedestal is set up close to the tortoise and on level ground before the tortoise is moved. Secondly, if the team members cannot move the tortoise, such as when it is found in a steep area that makes lifting or placing the equipment difficult, they entice the tortoise to move to level ground.

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀

While it sounds like an easy task, quite often, the tortoise tries to run off as soon as they see us coming towards them. As amusing as it is to see them trying to run off, our team members have to react swiftly to set up all the equipment and ensure the tortoise’s safety. In many cases, the adult tortoises are in inaccessible places, such as under trees, whereby it is difficult and is an arduous task to get their weight measurement. Lifting tortoises can be physically demanding and hands can be easily injured during the process, so staff must be careful to minimize injury. Good communication is needed when lifting and so that if any of our team member’s fingers get trapped under the carapace of the tortoise, they must immediately inform others, so that the tortoise can be lowered safely to the ground. Thankfully, our reptile staff are familiar with this situation and know the tricks and ways to cope with all these difficult aspects of the process.

18/12/2021

𝘒𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘺 𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘯 𝘢𝘬𝘴𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘦 𝘬𝘪 𝘒𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘭 (𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴) 𝘥𝘦𝘬𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘡𝘸𝘢𝘻𝘰 𝘕𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘬 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘴. 𝘒𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘭 𝘦𝘯𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘮𝘪𝘬 𝘬𝘪 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘷 𝘻𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘢𝘯 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘴. 𝘋𝘢𝘯 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘯 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘦 1980, 𝘔𝘢𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘯 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦 𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘮 𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘬 𝘨𝘰𝘶𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘯𝘮𝘢 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘬 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘻𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘬𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭, 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘷 𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘧𝘪 𝘱𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘯𝘱𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘯 𝘒𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘭 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘵 𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘪 𝘯𝘰𝘶 𝘻𝘪𝘭.

𝘡𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪 𝘦𝘯𝘢 350 𝘒𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘭 𝘥𝘢𝘯 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘴. 𝘚𝘰𝘷 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘯 𝘒𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘭 𝘴𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘯 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘪 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘯 𝘱𝘭𝘪 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘯 𝘳𝘦𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘢𝘺 𝘬𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘬𝘪 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘯 𝘧𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘢𝘯 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘴, 𝘦𝘬 𝘰𝘶𝘴𝘪 𝘥𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘦. 𝘒𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘭 𝘱𝘰𝘶 𝘥𝘦𝘬𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘦 ‘𝘡𝘸𝘢𝘻𝘰 𝘕𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘬 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘴’ 𝘱𝘰𝘶 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 30 𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘳 𝘢𝘬𝘴𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪 𝘙𝘦𝘱𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘬, 𝘢𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘴 2022.

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Cabinet has agreed to the Mauritius Kestrel (𝘍𝘢𝘭𝘤𝘰 𝘱𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴) being declared as the National Bird of the Republic of Mauritius. The Mauritius Kestrel is an endemic species unique to Mauritius. In the early 1980s, the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, in collaboration with the Government and international conservation organisations, took up the challenge to rescue the Kestrels from extinction.

The current wild population of Kestrels stands at 350 individuals. The rescue of the Mauritius Kestrel is one of the greatest conservation success stories not only in Mauritius but also in the world. The Mauritius Kestrel would be declared ‘the National Bird of Mauritius’ on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the accession of Mauritius to the status of Republic in March 2022.

16/12/2021

𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗧𝗛𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 - 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗱

Thank you Alice for this beautiful photo of the Round Island Boa, scientifically known as 𝘊𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘢 𝘥𝘶𝘴𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘪. The photo was taken on Round Island.

We encourage you to send your own high-resolution photos of endemic plants or animals to [email protected] if you want them to be shared on our page. Please indicate where the photos have been taken.

10/12/2021

𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗞 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗧𝗛𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 - 𝗟𝗲𝗲 𝗥𝗶𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘆

Thank you Lee for this beautiful photo of the Mauritius Paradise Flycatcher, scientifically known as 𝘛𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘴𝘪𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦 (𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘴) 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢 and commonly known as 'coq des bois'. The photo was taken at Bras d'Eau National Park.

We encourage you to send your own high resolution photos of endemic plants or animals to [email protected] if you want them to be shared on our page. Please indicate where the photos have been taken.

09/11/2021

02/10/2021

Love www.therainbow.io

The Indian Ocean holiday destination fully reopens to rebuild its vital tourism industry after long months of isolation.

02/10/2021

Hurricane Palm inflorescences. Photo Credit: Ben Dymond

15/08/2021

14/08/2021

I do love a good natural archway!

10/08/2021

La Prairie 🌅

06/08/2021

31/07/2021

28/07/2021

𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐥𝐲 #𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲!

that the rarest plant in the world is found in Mauritius? 🌴

🌱 The loneliest tree in the world is called 𝘏𝘺𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘴.
🌱 It was first collected by a naturalist called Philibert Commerson.
🌱 This last individual was recorded in 1940s during a palm survey from the botanical gardens of Mauritius.
🌱 There is little hope of discovering other individuals of the species as most of the original wet forest habitat of this palm has been destroyed, and the surviving remnants are highly invaded by invasive alien plants.
🌱 This last palm can no more reproduce naturally since it produces male and female flowers at different times.
🌱 In vitro propagation has been attempted, but saplings, unfortunately, died during transportation.
🌱 Last individual can be seen in the botanical garden of Curepipe.

🦇

10/07/2021

𝗜𝗹𝗲 𝗮𝘂𝘅 𝗔𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗿𝗲-𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱 – 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲-𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘀

Come discover the beautiful nature reserve of Ile aux Aigrettes and its multiple attractions, among which the rare Mauritius Olive White-eye as the site now re-opens to public visits.

We have a population of around 75 Mauritius Olive White-eyes on Ile aux Aigrettes, and conservation actions to save the species from extinction is supported by our Gold Species Champions, Exotic Group and HSBC.

We have been closed for over 4 months, and during that time Ecotour Rangers and reservation staff, just like last year, have been participating in conservation work to learn first hand what it really entails.

But now the Ecotour team is excited to welcome visitors. To note that all sanitary precautions will be maintained and that the Ecotour staff have their COVID-19 vaccines.

You can link to the Ile aux Aigrettes page by clicking here: https://www.facebook.com/IleAuxAigrettes Don’t forget to click on the like button!

10/06/2021

Let make Mauritius more sustainable and environmental