Wildlife
Of the many endemic species that inhabited the island, the Rodrigues cardinal remains, a small bird with yellow feathers around its head and gray on the rest of its body. There is also a fruit bat that can be seen in several areas, notably the Fond-la-Digue forest near Port Mathurin: the Rodrigues fruit bat, the only endemic mammal still represented.
In addition to these two species, which have withstood the test of time, there are rare varieties of Indian Ocean birds, such as boobies, frigate birds, yéyés (brown terns), mariannes, white schooners (also numerous in Saint-Brandon) and macouas. Most of these birds live in the nature reserves of Ile aux Cocos and Ile aux Sables, to the west of the island.
Rodrigues also has its own dodo, a little different from the Mauritian species: the Rodrigues or solitary dodo. Unable to fly and rather clumsy like its neighboring island counterpart, also massacred by the colonists, the solitaire had much better meat than the dodo - hence its inevitable extermination.
The large land tortoises that populated the island were also massacred by the French colonists in the 18th century, as their meat was used to supply ships passing through Mauritius.
Flora
The flora of Rodrigues, once luxuriant, has suffered greatly from deforestation and soil erosion. Many endemic plant species have disappeared due to human action and the damage caused by extensive cattle grazing. As a result of deforestation, the island has become arid and dry.
The most widespread trees and shrubs are vacoas, often found along the coastline, silt trees, lemon trees, filaos, traveler's trees, aloes and vetivers. There's also a plant specific to the island, called "vieille fille" (old maid), which is neither a great-aunt nor a retired schoolteacher, but a kind of small shrub with pink flowers used as an infusion! Lemongrass is common and is used to make delicious herbal teas, always served with local honey.
The island boasts some thirty endemic trees and shrubs, including three varieties of palm: the yellow latanier, the Rodrigues bottle palm and the white palm.
Protected areas and reserves
The island's largest reserve, François Leguat Reserve Rodrigues, is located in the southwest, at Anse Quitor, where a vast area is entirely dedicated to the protection of Rodrigues' ecosystems. Designed for tourism, it offers a highly instructive glimpse of pre-colonial flora and fauna. This ambitious project was launched in 2007 and required years of preparation, in parallel with the planned breeding of hundreds of turtles. On site, exotic species were eliminated to allow only endemic plants to thrive. Hundreds of land tortoises from Aldabra in the Seychelles, the closest cousins of the original tortoises, were reintroduced. In its pristine state, Rodrigues was home to the highest density of land tortoises in the world, with almost 300,000 turtles. There are now more than 5,000 on this land, which is pierced by numerous limestone caves that can also be visited.
Apart from the François Leguat Reserve, the other preserved terrestrial areas are less developed. These are the Grande Montagne Reserve (30 ha - information center, walking trails, guided tours) and the Anse Quitor Reserve (34 ha - walking trails).
At sea, only certain islets are partially protected, such as Ile aux Cocos and Ile aux Sables (both to the west) for their dense birdlife. Rodrigues also has a marine park in the Anse Mourouk and Port Sud-Est areas.
Rodrigues, an ecological island
Although there are still too few protected areas and the initial situation is alarming (Rodrigues is one of the islands whose original environment has been most degraded by centuries of colonization), the island is nonetheless a paradise for green tourism. With very few motor vehicles and virtually no factories, there is no pollution in the air. Habitat is scattered and fresh produce is grown without pesticides. The remarkable work of a number of NGOs, notably the WWF, has raised awareness of environmental issues not only among the local population, but also among tourists, who are no longer just looking for heavenly beaches, but also for unspoilt nature. So, since January1, 2020, to limit plastic waste - the real scourge of the islands - Rodrigues has become an island without disposable plastic and polystyrene products. Gone are the cutlery and straws that used to be found on beaches. Encouraging its citizens to become eco-responsible, Rodrigues is striving to become a 100% eco-friendly island.
Coves and beaches to play the Robinsons
Nature is XXL here. In contrast to the beaches of Mauritius, those of Rodrigues are just as superb, but more often than not deserted. Coves, coves, vast stretches of white sand bordered by lush vegetation, etc., there are numerous spots for sunbathers and solitary bathers, particularly on the east coast, where the most idyllic beaches line up. Except in front of the hotels (at Anse Mourouk, Anse Ally and Pointe Coton) and at Trou d'Argent (the most publicized cove), you'll often find yourself alone, a little dismayed that such places aren't more popular, and always moved to be able to enjoy, for a few hours or a few days, a slice of paradise on the other side of the world.. Baladirou, Fumier, Saint-François, Graviers and Baie de l'Est are all names that evoke the ocean, the sand and the quiet torpor of an afternoon spent under the filaos, without deckchairs or pareo vendors. Naturally, these paradisiacal spaces are the constant target of developers and hoteliers in search of spectacular new getaways for travelers. How long the latter will remain the only Robinsons stranded 650 km from any other land, we don't know... For now, at least, we can breathe!
