Desire to go back 400 years in time? Wildlife conservationists are up with their gloves to do just that ‘ setting up a time machine for you on the volcanic Indian Ocean archipelago of a small wooded island off southern Mauritius.
Though, the island has already lost its Mauritius giant skink – a type of large grey lizard – its broad-billed parrot, scops owl or even the lesser flying fox, Ashok Khadun, a conservation expert with the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (a local non-governmental organization) has planned to turn the island’s clock back 400 years.
Despite, disappearance of several ancient species, experts on Ile Aux Aigrettes — in sight of the mainland – are trying to recreate the environment of those bygone days, providing a haven for the presently endangered species.
For example, experts are importing two types of gentle beast tortoises from the Seychelles, once native to the Ile Aux Aigrettes archipelago. Each of these tortoises weighs more than 200 kg (440 lb) on average.
Though, not sure how much more this creation of the native Mauritius would earn the archipelago from tourism, but will definitely reflect the ecological disaster caused by the Europeans’ arrival led by the Portuguese in the 16th century, along with their merciless slashing of forest habitats.
It would, perhaps, be able to give us the picture of a land before and after man set foot on it and how we exploit nature to meet our unscrupulous desire.