The Pink Pigeon was widely distributed throughout Mauritius. Subfossil remains from Mare aux Songes confirm that they were also found in the lowlands. By the 19th century Pink Pigeons were confined to the upland forest and its distribution had become heavily fragmented by the early 1900’s.

The destruction of native forests on a massive scale, the persecution of pigeons and the introduction of a staggering list of mammalian predators have all contributed to the decline of the Pink Pigeon. By the 1950’s there were thought to be only 40 to 60 Pink Pigeons left. By the late 1960’s the Pink Pigeon was confined to the upland forests of the Black River Gorges, Macchabée and Brise Fer ridges. By the mid 1970’s this range had declined to a single population of 20 birds near Bassin Blanc in a grove of introduced Japanese red cedar Cryptomeria japonica at Plaine Paul (now baptised Pigeon Wood). In 1986, only 12 Pigeons could be found in Pigeon Wood. That year, five nesting attempts were recorded. All failed due to predation by Ship Rats Rattus rattus. The outlook for the survival of this species was not very good.

The main reasons for the decline of the Pink Pigeon population have been habitat loss in favour of economic development and degradation caused by invasive exotic weed species, primarily Chinese Guava Psidium cattleianum and the privet Ligustrum robustum var. walkeri. These invade and choke the forest, thus preventing the regeneration of native plant species.

Pink Pigeons evolved in the absence of mammalian predators, but are now threatened by Crab-eating Macaques Macaca fascicularus, Feral cats Felis catus and Mongoose Herpetes javanicus, all efficient bird killers. The Ship Rat Rattus rattus and the Macaque are both efficient nest predators eating both pigeon eggs and squabs.

Pink Pigeons are perfectly adapted for foraging on fruits and leaves at the ends of the long, thin branches of native trees. Pink Pigeons also forage on the ground where they turn over leaf litter to pick up leaf fragments, pieces of grit, soil and fallen seeds. Pink Pigeons are territorial with males holding the territories, to which females are attracted to. Both males and females build their nests in the upper canopy of emergent endemic trees. It may take the pair anywhere from 3 to 14 days to build a nest. Pigeons lay one to two eggs per clutch and take turn incubating and caring for the young. Incubation takes 14 days and the squabs usually take a further 27 days before they are ready to leave the nest. The fledglings stay with their parents for several weeks while they learn how to survive on their own.

The releases of Pink Pigeons back into the wild was planned in the early 1980’s, resulting in the first trial release of captive-bred birds at the Pamplemousses Botanic Gardens in 1984. The first release into their native habitat occurred in the upland forest of Brise Fer in 1988.

We now have 4 upland subpopulations centred around our field stations and Conservation Management Areas at Brise Fer, Pigeon Wood, Bel Ombre and Combo, all within the Black River Gorges National Park. In addition, a 5th subpopulation is doing well on the predator free island Nature Reserve of Ile aux Aigrettes. In total we have over 320 wild Pink Pigeons at these sites a dramatic improvement from the 12 birds found in 1986.

In addition to the release of captive bred birds back to the wild, the management of each subpopulation is very intensive and entails the following management practices:

Nearly every single Pink Pigeon is ringed with its own metal ID band and unique plastic colour combination. Each bird can then be identified and followed individually allowing the health of each subpopulation to be closely followed. All nests are monitored and the success documented. A large dataset has been collected to date and is currently being analyzed.

The degradation of the Pink Pigeon’s natural habitat is so advanced that the birds are very often not able to find enough food to support themselves. Thus, supplementary wheat and maize feed is provided at a number of feeding stations to increase the birds’ chances of survival and improve their general condition. Consequently, the pigeons are in better health and physical condition, can avoid predation, and breed more successfully throughout the year (except for a month or two when they are moulting, thus not laying any eggs).

Predators are recognized as a major limiting factor, and their impacts are limited around field sites eg poison grids for rats, exclusion from reaching nests in trees by placing plastic guards and trimming branches etc. In addition, competitors for supplementary food are excluded through carefully designed feed hoppers.

Some diseases also adversely affect the Pink Pigeon. Most notable are Trichomoniasis and Avian Pox, both of which have been studied. The former is thought to have arrived with exotic pigeons and measures to reduce its transmission are underway.

The Pink Pigeon will continue to require supplementary feeding, disease and predator management. Over the longer term, large restored forest areas will have to be created. These mainland islands will provide core source areas where the pigeon population exploits safe nesting areas and is able to spread out into the rest of the upland forest. For the time being, however, future releases at new field sites will further increase the wild population and provide a safer and brighter future for this beautiful endemic pigeon.

Sponsored By:
CIEL Group
Durell Wildlife Conservation Trust
National Parks and Conservation Service

Last update: 26 December 2006