Can Mauritius prevent its vulnerable wildlife going the way of the dodo?

Mauritius is a spectacular island, but development, farming and the encroachment of non-native species of flora and fauna are threatening its wildlifeThe plane turns and banks as it comes into land; the island below is a lush deep green. Fingers of rock - the now solidified cores of ancient volcanoes – emerge from patches of forest, themselves set amidst a sea of sugar cane that almost encircles the land between the coast and the villages of the central plateau. I catch a glimpse of the south coast and the scattered developments of hotels and resorts with their white sands, calm lagoons and co conut palms, before the view returns to houses and cane once more.Continue reading...

Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - October 25, 2016 Category: Science Authors: Richard Aspinall Tags: Biology Science Wildlife Mauritius holidays Environment Conservation Zoology Source Type: news