The Pink Pigeon
The Pink Pigeon was once widely distributed across Mauritius. The main factors in the decline of the Pink Pigeon are the destruction of native forest (primarily for sugar cane cultivation), hunting and the introduction of predators such as rats, mongoose, monkeys and feral cats. By the 1950s the numbers had declined to around 50 individuals and by the mid-1970s this had fallen further still to a single population of 20 birds in the upland forest of the Black River Gorges near Bassin Blanc, now known as Pigeon Wood. Just 12 Pink Pigeons remained in 1986, and of the 5 nesting attempts recorded that year none were successful, following predation by rats. The chances of the long-term survival of the species looked bleak.
As a result of the severe population decline, MWF established an intensive conservation programme, with the initiation of captive breeding in 1976, followed by the first releases into the wild in 1987. Now there are six sub-populations Additional sub-populations will be required in order to increase the wild population and to encourage the dispersal of birds between the different areas in order to maintain genetic diversity. In total over 470 wild Pink Pigeons exist, a dramatic improvement from the 12 birds found in 1986.
The Pink Pigeon
The Pink Pigeon was once widely distributed across Mauritius. The main factors in the decline of the Pink Pigeon are the destruction of native forest (primarily for sugar cane cultivation), hunting and the introduction of predators such as rats, mongoose, monkeys and feral cats. By the 1950s the numbers had declined to around 50 individuals and by the mid-1970s this had fallen further still to a single population of 20 birds in the upland forest of the Black River Gorges near Bassin Blanc, now known as Pigeon Wood. Just 12 Pink Pigeons remained in 1986, and of the 5 nesting attempts recorded that year none were successful, following predation by rats. The chances of the long-term survival of the species looked bleak.
As a result of the severe population decline, MWF established an intensive conservation programme, with the initiation of captive breeding in 1976, followed by the first releases into the wild in 1987. Now there are six sub-populations Additional sub-populations will be required in order to increase the wild population and to encourage the dispersal of birds between the different areas in order to maintain genetic diversity. In total over 470 wild Pink Pigeons exist, a dramatic improvement from the 12 birds found in 1986.