Ile aux Aigrettes is a small island with an area of 26 Ha. It is situated some 850 m off the south east coast in the Mahebourg Bay. Unlike mainland Mauritius which is of volcanic origin, Ile aux Aigrettes is made up of coralline limestone partially overlain with sand and soil deposits and is what remains of an eroded dune exposed after a drop in the sea level some 30,000 years ago.

The island was declared a Nature Reserve in 1965 and is under active management of the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation since 1986. Ile aux Aigrettes contains the remnants of a unique coastal vegetation type that once existed on the coastal and lowland areas of Mauritius.


Free from human presence for long periods, Ile aux Aigrettes is a natural museum where a remarkable collection of endemic species of Mauritian fauna and flora have evolved.

The European discovery of the Mascarenes during the 16th century, spelt the beginning of the end for the balanced and peaceful ecosystem of the mainland and that of surrounding islets. The proximity of the islet to the shore and to Vieux Grand Port, the first settlement site, made Ile aux Aigrettes easily accessible to the first visitors.

The Dutch were the first people to attempt permanent settlement on Mauritius and are also thought to be the first to set foot on Ile aux Aigrettes, which they named ‘Visschers Eyland’ (Fisherman’s Island). After over exploitation of the native wildlife, they deserted Mauritius in 1710 leaving behind large surfaces of deforested lands once covered with coastal ebony forests heavily harvested for their highly prized hardwoods in Europe. Many bird species, including the large flightless Dodo, had also, by then, become extinct.

The degradation of the forests continued with the French who arrived in 1715. The ruins of a limekiln on Ile aux Aigrettes bear witness to their presence. The sugar industry required lime for the manufacture of sugar. This impelled much deforestation on the islet, as a significant amount of wood was needed to fire the limekiln. Deforestation of the ebony forests continued on the mainland to make way for sugar cane fields causing further loss of habitat for a number of endemic species eventually driving further species to extinction.

Ile aux Aigrettes served as a military base during World War II. The most severe degradation of the islet’s forest occurred when vast areas were cleared to make place for the construction of a number of buildings and the installation of two canons, destined to protect Mauritius from attacks.
After the war, the island was privately leased and used as grazing ground for cattle and goats. By then, Acacia Leucaena leucocephala, a highly invasive plant, had become widespread on the island.

The islet, although declared Nature Reserve in 1965, was heavily exploited and the felling of trees continued well into the 1980’s.

In 1984, the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation initiated a habitat restoration project on Ile aux Aigrettes with the aim conserving the native plant and animal species.

The main objectives of the project were to:

• Remove exotic species of plants from the island

• Spread and replant native species of the Mauritian flora

• Eradicate introduced mammals (rats and shrews) which feed on the seeds and fruits of certain plants. Rats are also heavy predators of eggs and chicks of native birds

• Reintroduce the endemic species of birds and reptiles of Mauritius on to the island

• Restore the unique habitat to its natural state of 400 years ago.

In 1986, the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (formerly known as Mauritian Wildlife Foundation Wildlife Appeal Fund) obtained the lease for management of Ile aux Aigrettes from the Government of Mauritius. In order to stop illegal entry and massive firewood harvesting, a warden was posted on the island. By 1984, the island had become a threatened ecosystem, highly infested by introduced weeds and rats, putting immense pressure on the native species. The fast growing weeds were invading the island, choking off the native plants, and the rats were predating heavily on the fruits and seeds of the native vegetation thus preventing regeneration.

Ile aux Aigrettes is the last refuge of the dry, coastal forest, an ecosystem once common around much of coastal Mauritius but lost through the action of man. The island has two distinct types of forests: the Coastal forest and the Ebony forest.

This type of forest is rich in the unique and Critically Endangered species of ebony Diospyros egrettarum named after Ile aux Aigrettes, the endangered Bois de Chandelle Dracaena concinna, Bois de boeuf Gastonia mauritiana
and a species of orchid Oeniella aphrodite, amongst others. Endemic animals includes the beautiful turquoise and red lizard, the Ornate Day Gecko.

In 1991 rats, cats and mongooses previously present on the island were successfully eradicated paving the way for further work. The Mauritius Kestrel was reintroduced for the first time. However, this unique bird of prey prefers the nearby mainland Bambous Mountains and is now a rare visitor to Ile aux Aigrettes.

Once the rats were removed, there was a dramatic emergence of Ebony seedlings. However, considerable work had to be done in terms of habitat restoration.

In 1996, the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation obtained a grant from the Global Environment Fund through the World Bank to continue restoration work on Ile aux Aigrettes. An aggressive weeding programme was launched and various methods of weed control and eradication were tried. The whole island has now been weeded at least once and all the cleared areas have been replanted with native plants.

In 1997, a Nursery was built for the production of endangered native plants for the plant restoration programme on the island. The Nursery produces about 40,000 plants per year, which are planted on Ile aux Aigrettes during the rainy season (February to April).

To date some 30 endangered endemic/native plant species have been reintroduced to the island, including the Critically Endangered Round Island Bottle Palm and the Round Island Hurricane Palm, of which only one adult tree remains in the wild.

In 1994, an aviary was set up on the island and the first set of Pink Pigeons was reintroduced on the island. There are currently over 87 wild Pink Pigeons, all under close monitoring.

In the past, Mauritius had 2 endemic tortoise species, but these became extinct about 200 years ago through excessive exploitation by man and predation by introduced animals. In 2000, 18 adult and sub adult Giant Aldabran Tortoises Geochelone gigantea were released on Ile aux Aigrettes to simulate the impact of browsers on the island’s vegetation. It is the first time that giant tortoises can be seen in this type of ecosystem since the extinction of the Mauritian species. Babies produced by these adult tortoises which will be released on other suitable Nature Reserves such as Round Island.

There are still a number of introduced or alien animal species present on the island. This includes the Indian House shrew Suncus murinus, Indian wolfsnake Lycodon aulicum, and Giant African land snails Achatina fulica. These affect native biodiversity as competitors and predators. In 1999, an attempt to eradicate the house shrew was made, but this was not successful. Currently methods are being looked into for their eventual eradication. There are plans to reintroduce 250 Telfair’s Skink Leiolopisma telfairii from Round Island in December 2006, which presently is represented by a handful of captive animals.

In November 2003, the Critically Endangered Mauritius Fody Foudia rubra was reintroduced on the island and this species is successfully breeding. The current population now exceeds 100 birds.

The Olive White-eye Zosterops chloronothos is the next candidate for reintroduction to Ile aux Aigrettes.

Guided visits to discover the unique biodiversity and the works of the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation can be booked on the following Telephone Number 631-2396.

For further details please consult our Ile Aux Aigrettes Website.

Sponsored By:
Ernest Kleinwork Charitable Trust
Espitalier Noel Ltd
Ministry of Environment (National Environment Fund)
Peter Scott Fund - IUCN
Rufford Maurice Laing
St Mary’s Charity

Last update: 26 December 2006