Les plages de l'île sont superbes © Charles-Henry THOQUENNE - Shutterstock.com .jpg
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Wildlife

Of the many endemic species that used to inhabit the island, the Rodrigues cardinal remains, a small bird with yellow feathers around its head and grey on the rest of its body. There is also a fruit bat that can be observed in several sectors, notably the Fond-la-Digue forest near Port Mathurin: the Rodrigues fruit bat, the only endemic mammal still represented.

Apart from these two species which have been able to resist time and men, there are rare varieties of birds of the Indian Ocean, such as the boobies, the frigates, the yéyés (brown terns), the mariannes, the white schooners (also numerous in Saint-Brandon) and the macouas. Most of these birds live in the nature reserves of Cocos Island and Sables Island, in the west of the island.

Rodrigues has also known its dodo, a little different from the Mauritian species: the Rodrigues Dodo or solitary. Unable to fly and rather clumsy like its neighbouring island counterpart, which was also massacred by the colonists, the solitaire had a much better meat than the dodo - hence its inevitable extermination.

The large land tortoises that populated the island were also massacred by the French settlers during the 18th century, as their meat was used to supply the ships passing through Mauritius.

Flora

The flora of Rodrigues, once lush, has suffered greatly from deforestation and soil erosion. Many endemic plant species have disappeared due to human action and damage caused by extensive cattle grazing. With deforestation, the island has become arid and dry.

The most common trees and shrubs are vacoas, often along the coastline, silt trees, lemon trees, filaos, traveller's trees, aloes and vetiver trees. There is also a plant specific to the island, called "old maid", which is neither a great-aunt nor a retired schoolteacher, but a kind of small shrub with pink flowers that is used in infusions! Lemongrass is common and is used to make delicious herbal teas, always served with local honey.

The island has about thirty endemic trees and shrubs, among which three varieties of palm trees: the yellow latanier, the Rodrigues bottle palm and the white palm.

Protected areas and reserves

The largest reserve of the island, François Leguat Reserve Rodrigues, is located in the south-west, at Anse Quitor, where a vast space is entirely dedicated to the protection of Rodrigues' ecosystems. Set up for tourism, it offers a very instructive overview of the flora and fauna of pre-colonial times. This ambitious project was born in 2007 and required years of preparation in parallel with the planned breeding of hundreds of turtles. On site, exotic species have been removed to allow only endemic plants to develop. Hundreds of land turtles from Aldabra in the Seychelles, closest cousins of the original turtles, were reintroduced. It should be noted that in its pristine state, with nearly 300 000 turtles, Rodrigues was home to the highest density of land turtles in the world. There are now more than 4,000 of them on this land pierced by numerous limestone caves which can also be visited.

Contrary to the François Leguat reserve, the other preserved terrestrial zones do not benefit from any development apart from a few walking paths. These are the Grande Montagne Reserve (30 ha) and the Anse Quitor Reserve (34 ha).

In the sea, only some islets are partially protected, such as Cocos Island and Sables Island (both in the West) for their dense birdlife. Rodrigues also has a marine park in the area of Anse Mourouk and Port Sud-Est.

Rodrigues, an ecological island

If too few areas are still protected and the initial observation is alarming (since Rodrigues is one of the islands whose original environment has been the most degraded by centuries of colonization), the island is nevertheless a paradise for green tourism. The motor vehicles being very few and the factories almost non-existent, no pollution contaminates the air. The habitat is scattered and fresh products are grown without pesticides. The remarkable work of certain NGOs, and in particular the WWF, has made it possible to raise awareness of the environmental issue not only among the local population, but also among tourists who are no longer just looking for paradisiacal beaches, but also for preserved nature. Thus, since January1, 2020, in order to limit plastic waste, the real scourge of the islands, Rodrigues has become an island without disposable plastic products and polystyrene. No more cutlery or straws that could be found on the beaches. Multiplying incentives for its citizens to become eco-responsible actors, Rodrigues is working towards becoming an ecological island.

Coves and beaches to play the Robinsons

Nature is XXL here. Unlike the beaches of Mauritius, those of Rodrigues, which are just as superb, are most often deserted. Coves, coves, vast stretches of white sand bordered by lush vegetation, etc., the spots for sunbathers and solo swimmers are numerous, particularly on the east coast where the most idyllic beaches are lined up. Except in front of the hotels (at Anse Mourouk, Anse Ally and Pointe Coton) and at Trou d'Argent (the most publicized cove), one is often alone, a little appalled that such spaces are not more crowded, and always moved to be able to enjoy, for a few hours or a few days, a piece of paradise at the other end of the world.. Baladirou, Fumier, Saint-François, Graviers, Baie de l'Est are all names that evoke the ocean, the sand, the quiet torpor of an afternoon spent under the filaos, without deckchairs or pareo salesmen. Of course, this paradisiacal image is the target of promoters and hoteliers in search of new spectacular drop-off points for tourists who will soon no longer be the only Robinsons stranded 650 km from any other land... For now, we can breathe!