World_of_Animals_Issue_46_2017

Watch the bats rise as the Sun sets
Even in a tiny country famed for its
biodiversity and high number of endemic
animals, the Mauritian fruit bat stands
out. It’s the sole surviving native mammal
found on the island. These mega
bats, also known as flying foxes, have
wingspans of up to 0.8 metres (2.6 feet)
and their ginger-coloured furry heads lend
them their fox-like appearance.
Fruit bats play a vital role in pollinating
and dispersing the seeds of some of
Mauritius’ most endangered plants. Although
they can be spotted in forested areas all
over the island in the evenings, one of the most
impressive displays takes place at sundown in
Black River Gorges National Park. You can easily
spend a day hiking in the country’s only national
park, and it’s a hot spot for many of Mauritius’
rarest birds, including pink pigeons, olive whiteeyes
and echo parakeets. As the light begins to
fade, thousands of bats fly up en masse from
the caves and ravines where they rest during
the day. Be sure to keep a close eye on the time,
though, as the gates shut in the evenings – or you
might want to consider stopping the night at the
campsite next to the Black River Visitor’s Centre.
See Darwin’s
plan in action
Sadly, just like the dodo, the many native
tortoises that once called Mauritius home
were wiped out by the arrival of European
settlers. This was not just a loss for
chelonian-kind. It also left a huge gap in
the regional ecology, as the turtles were
the principal grazers, keeping wild plants
in check and spreading seeds, like those
of the ebony tree. It was history’s most
famous naturalist, Charles Darwin, who
suggested that a similar species might be
introduced to take their place. Enter the
Aldabra giant tortoise, the last of their
kind in the Indian Ocean.
In 2000, the Mauritian Wildlife
Foundation (MWF) released 20 of
these gentle giants – originally from the
Seychelles – on the Ile aux Aigrettes
nature reserve off the southeastern coast.
The focus of a long-term conservation
project, this 26-hectare (64-acre) islet
contains the only remnants of Mauritius’
once prolific dry coastal forest, providing
a refuge for many animals long since
driven off the mainland. The initiative
has proven so successful that over 100
tortoises have now been translocated
to another island to build up a second
population. The MWF leads walking
tours on Ile aux Aigrettes, so as well as
meeting the shelled stars, you’ll also have
an expert at hand to explain exactly how
rewilding works.
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