The
Mauritius Kestrel (Falco Punctatus) was once regarded as the World’s
rarest bird; by 1974 only four individuals were known to survive in the Lower
Black River Gorges. There is an estimated 800-1000 free flying Mauritius
Kestrels currently.
The
Mauritius Kestrel has been saved from extinction by intensive management of the
wild population in conjunction with the release of captive bred or captive
reared birds.
The Mauritius
Kestrel was once widely distributed over the island from sea level to the
highest upland forest of Mauritius. With the destruction and degradation of
native forest for lumber and clearing for agricultural lands the numbers
declined dramatically.
By 1900, they
had become restricted to the three main mountain ranges on Mauritius, the Moka,
the Bambous and the Black River Gorges, with possibly several hundred pairs.
The use of
organo-chloride and organo-phosphates pesticides (mainly DDT) in the 1950’s and
1960’s for the control of malaria was almost the nail in the coffin for this
species. By the late 1950’s only 20 to 25 birds could be found, all in the
Black River Gorges, where pesticides had not been used. By May of 1974, the
total wild population was reduced to a mere four birds, including a single
breeding female.
A captive population
was created from harvesting wild eggs, and the young were subsequently released
back into the wild. To maximize breeding success some kestrels were
supplementary fed and the nests were protected from another problem for
kestrels – introduced mammalian predators. Rats and monkeys regularly eat the
nest contents. Predator proof nest-boxes were provided and are still used by
kestrels today. By 1991, there were at least 30 wild nesting pairs and a
population of 170 wild birds in 4 sub-populations. By 1994, 346 young kestrels
had been released back into the wild.
The success of the
project has resulted in the Mauritius Kestrel being downgraded from Critically
Endangered to Endangered in 1994 and then to Vulnerable in 2000 by the IUCN.
Monitoring of all
nesting pairs continued in the Black River Gorges until 2001 and continues
today in the Bambous Mountain population. The Bambous Mountain kestrel
population went extinct in the 1950’s until birds were released in 1987. They
have been monitored ever since with almost all nests found and nestlings
ringed. This long term dataset is unusually complete for a wild animal and is
now being used for various PhD studies.
The
Mauritian Wildlife Foundation
The
Mauritian Wildlife Foundation is the only Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO)
in Mauritius to be exclusively concerned with the conservation of the
endangered endemic plants and animals of Mauritius.
Our Mission
- To save
threatened Mauritian species through the restoration of entire ecosystems.
- To seek new information through field research, data management, captive
studies and scientific collaboration for direct application to restoration
methods and management.
- To share knowledge gained through restoration programmes with fellow
Mauritian and international conservationists.
- To share the joys and benefits of native wilderness and wildlife with the
Mauritian people.
- To secure the future of Mauritian species through income generation and sound
management of human, fiscal and capital resources.
Our Achievements
Conservation
on Mauritius is one of the World's most successful conservation stories. This
is due to MWF's restoration work started in the 1970's, which includes the
rescue of the Mauritius Kestrel, the Echo Parakeet and the Pink Pigeon, brought
back from the brink of extinction. We develop protocols for the rescue of
native plant species and we also work in Rodrigues Island restoring the flora and
fauna and replanting the native forest. MWF has been actively involved with
island restoration, in particular on Ile aux Aigrettes and Round Island both of
which are endangered biodiversity hotspots of global importance. These
conservation efforts will benefit future generations of Mauritians. MWF
promotes local capacity building and provides employment through its
activities. MWF wishes to remain a strong, vibrant and innovative organisation.
CAP SOLEIL - ILE MAURICE - Tour opérateur (License No. 03430) Membre de AIOM (Association of Inbound Operators of Mauritius) Adresse: 5 Impasse des Ibis - Sodnac - Quatre Bornes - Ile Maurice -
Tel: [230] 427 7454 - 55 -
Fax: [230] 427 0444
Email: soleilmaurice@gmail.com
