The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF) is a non-governmental, non-profit conservation agency working in Mauritius

Mauritius

Mauritius , officially the Republic of Mauritius is an island nation off the southeast coast of the African continent in the southwest Indian Ocean, about east of Madagascar...

 to save threatened endemic

Endemic (ecology)

Endemism is the ecological state of being unique to a defined geographic location, such as an island, nation or other defined zone, or habitat type; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, all species of lemur are endemic to the...

 local flora and fauna.

The Mauritian Wildlife Appeal Fund was established in 1984 under the initiative of naturalist Gerald Durrell

Gerald Durrell

Gerald "Gerry" Malcolm Durrell, OBE was a naturalist, zookeeper, conservationist, author and television presenter...

 and the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust principally to raise funds for the conservation of endemic Mauritius wildlife. The conservation work in Mauritius began as a species orientated program concentrating on a few critically endangered species, including the Mauritius Kestrel

Indian Ocean kestrels

Isolated on various islands around the Indian Ocean, kestrel populations evolved into different species, like Darwin's finches. Behaviour remains similar to other small species of Falco except on forested Mauritius where kestrels hunt arboreally more like hawks...

 and the Pink Pigeon

Pink Pigeon

The Pink Pigeon, Columba mayeri, is a species of Columbidae endemic to Mauritius, and is now very rare. It was on the brink of extinction in 1991 when only 10 individuals remained, but its numbers have increased due to the efforts of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust since 1977...

. The initiation of the conservation program in 1976 was popularized by Gerald Durrell

Gerald Durrell

Gerald "Gerry" Malcolm Durrell, OBE was a naturalist, zookeeper, conservationist, author and television presenter...

 in his book Golden Bats and Pink Pigeons.

In 1996, the organization expanded its operations to habitat restoration, including the management of native forests and small islands. The evolution of MWF from a funding and administration organization to that of a hands-on conservation agency was reflected in the new name adopted that year, the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation.

The Foundation is now perfecting whole ecosystem management and restoration, which includes predator and pest (weed) control. It also has captive breeding programs for animals, and endemic plant nurseries. This work is being done at Brise Fer in the Black River Gorges National Park, and on the islands of Ile aux Aigrettes, Round Island

Round Island

Round Island may refer to:Australia:* Round Island , Frankland Islands* Round Island , Hogan Group, northern Bass StraitCanada:* Round Island, Nova Scotia* Round Island Hong Kong:...

, and Rodrigues Island.

In 1998, MWF expanded its activities into two new fields: ecotourism on Ile aux Aigrettes and an Environmental Education programme in Rodrigues.

The MWF is currently working to conserve the following species:

• Pink Pigeon
  Pink Pigeon
  The Pink Pigeon, Columba mayeri, is a species of Columbidae endemic to Mauritius, and is now very rare. It was on the brink of extinction in 1991 when only 10 individuals remained, but its numbers have increased due to the efforts of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust since 1977...
  
  
• Mauritius Kestrel
  Mauritius Kestrel
  The Mauritius Kestrel is a bird of prey from the family Falconidae endemic to the forests of Mauritius, where it is restricted to the southwestern plateau's forests, cliffs, and ravines.It is the most distinct of the Indian Ocean kestrels...
  
  
• Echo Parakeet
  Mauritius Parakeet
  The Mauritius Parakeet , also known as Echo Parakeet, is the sole survivor of the Psittacula species which inhabited the southern Indian ocean islands near Madagascar. Its local name is katover.-Taxonomy:...
  
  
• Rodrigues Fruit Bat
• Mauritius Fody
  Mauritius Fody
  The Mauritius Fody is a rare species of bird in the weaver family. It is endemic to the island of Mauritius. It is classified by BirdLife International as being endangered. It is also on the United States' Endangered Species List with an endangered status.This bird is 14 centimeters long...
  
  
• Mauritius Cuckoo-shrike
  Mauritius Cuckoo-shrike
  The Mauritius Cuckooshrike is a species of bird in the Campephagidae family.It is endemic to Mauritius.Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.It is threatened by habitat loss.-External links:*...
  
  
• Mauritius Bulbul
  Mauritius Bulbul
  The Mauritius Bulbul , also known as Mauritius Black Bulbul, is a songbird endemic to Mauritius. Formerly, it was included in H. borbonicus as subspecies olivaceus....
  
  
• Mauritius Paradise Flycatcher
• Mauritius Olive White-eye
  Mauritius Olive White-eye
  The Mauritius Olive White-eye is a very rare passerine from the family of white-eyes . It is endemic to the island of Mauritius.-Description:...
  
  
• Day gecko species of the genus Phelsuma
  Phelsuma
  The genus Phelsuma consists of several lizards in the gecko family, commonly referred to as Day Geckos.-Description:In contrast to most other gecko species, day geckos are active mainly during the day. Other diurnal geckos are members of the genus Lygodactylus and the genus Gonatodes...
  
  
• Night geckos species of the genus Nactus
  Nactus
  -Classification of genus Nactus:*Nactus acutus*Nactus cheverti*Mauritius Accidental Gecko, Nactus coindemirensis*Nactus eboracensis*Black Mountain Gecko, Nactus galgajuga*Nactus multicarinatus*Pelagic Gecko, Nactus pelagicus...
  
  
• Round Island boa
  Round Island boa
  The Bolyeriidae are a family of snakes native to Mauritius and a few islands around it, especially Round Island. In the past they also occurred on the island of Mauritius, but were extirpated there due to human influence and foraging pigs in particular. These snakes were formerly placed in the...
  
  
• Telfair's Skink
• Bojer's Skink
  Bojer's Skink
  The Bojer's Skink is a small skink from the Gongylomorphus genus.-Description:This species is named after Wenceslas Bojer. Its total size is about 11 cm, including a 6 cm tail...
  
  
• Macchabe Skink
• Bouton Skink

See also: Gerald Durrell

Gerald Durrell

Gerald "Gerry" Malcolm Durrell, OBE was a naturalist, zookeeper, conservationist, author and television presenter...

, Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust

Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust is a conservation organisation with a mission to save species from extinction.Gerald Durrell founded the Jersey Wildlife Preservation Trust as a charitable institution in 1963 with the Dodo as its symbol...

, Wildlife Trust (US)

Wildlife Trust (US)

EcoHealth Alliance, formerly known as Wildlife Trust, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization headquartered in New York City working on conservation ecology and issues in the United States and around the world....

, Wildlife Preservation Canada

Wildlife Preservation Canada

Wildlife Preservation Canada is a non-profit, non-governmental organization working on conservation and captive breeding issues in Canada. It is headquartered in Guelph, Ontario....

External links

• Mauritian Wildlife Foundation
• An article in The Independent, London.