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The Visitors Center
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.
The Aviaries
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.
The Plant Nursery
This facility is of great importance to the restoration project
underway. Built in 1997, the nursery serves as a laboratory where about
45,000 young plants are produced yearly, of which 40,000 are planted on
Ile aux Aigrettes itself while the remaining 5,000 are grown on Round
Island, another important conservation site, also managed by the
Mauritian Wildlife Foundation.
The Telfair Skink
An old reservoir built during the British occupation has been restored
to accommodate a couple of Telfair Skinks (Leiolopisma telfairii) held
in captivity until their release in the wild. Up the wooden stairs to a
platform, visitors can observe those reptiles, once present on Mauritius
and its neighbouring islets, now found in the wild only on Round Island.
The Giant Aldabra Tortoise
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.
Canopy Viewing Tower
Next to the Cannon, a small British-built building has been restored and
transformed into an observation point on the dense canopy of the
island’s coastal forest. This building was used to stock ammunition
during World War II
The Coastal Ebony Forest
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.
Another unique discovery, the Oeniella aphrodite, a delicate Orchid
endemic to Mauritius, favors the branching cavities of the Ebony trees
and the Bois de Boeuf.
The Bay Viewing Platform
One of the highlights of the tour, this concrete building offers from
its rooftop, a breathtaking view on the bay of Mahébourg, the Lions
Mountain and the neighbouring islets. Erected during World War II by the
British, the building housed a generator, which served to power a
floodlight that swept the main channel through the reef into the lagoon. |
