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The dodo was a large flightless bird of about 1 m in height and weighing an estimated 20 kg. Two very characteristic features were its small wings and large hooked beak. Despite its apparent familiarity nobody knows precisely what the dodo looked like as no complete specimens exist.
Different living things live in different environments. The part of an environment an animal lives is called its habitat.
The habitat provides plants and animals with food, shelter and space to live.
For a time in the 1970s, the Mauritius Kestrel was the most endangered bird of prey in the world – with only four known individuals remaining in the wild. The restoration of the Mauritius Kestrel from the brink of extinction in the 1970s to around 800 individuals today is one of the greatest conservation successes in history.
The earthworm is a reddish-brown terrestrial invertebrate. It lives in the upper layers of damp, decomposing soil. It is nocturnal and lives in tunnels dug by burrowing and swallowing the earth throughout the day. They respire through the skin.
Crocodiles can live in both water and land and they are less dependent on water than the amphibians (like the frog). An amphibian might be able to live on land but it needs a water body nearby. It cannot survive on dry and desert areas unlike the reptiles.
Amphibians are animals that have special adaptations and can live on both land and in water.
The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (Mauritian Wildlife) is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) whose mission is to save endemic Mauritian and Rodriguan fauna and flora, undertake research on how to restore and manage the ecosystem, share the results with the general public and protect the native species’ future. The organisation is known for having saved most bird-species in the world, works as consultant in restoration techniques and runs ecotourism and CSR activities.
Habitat conservation involves the protection and maintenance of natural ecosystems to enhance biodiversity and prevent the loss of species.
Round Island has been designated as Nature Reserve at National level in 1957 for threatened Mauritian plant and animal species, and as a source of reptiles and seabirds to restore other ecosystems.
Ile aux Aigrettes is an islet off the south-east coast of Mauritius. It functions as a nature reserve and a scientific research station. It is also a popular visitors attraction — both for tourists and for Mauritians.
Black River Gorges National Park in the south-west that is home to several native trees, endemic birds like the Pink Pigeon and Kestrel, waterfalls, water pools and presents scenic views of the island.
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