CIEL Group is, since the beginning of 2006, the main sponsor of the Pink Pigeon Project, a conservation project initiated and managed by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF). The project's mission is to protect and increase the population of the Pink Pigeon, one of the last endemic birds of Mauritius.

The Pink Pigeon - Vulnerable & still critically endangered

The Mauritius Pink Pigeon (Columba mayeri), commonly known as the "Pigeon des Mares" or "Pigeon Rose", once had the unfortunate notoriety of being the rarest pigeon in the world. From 20 wild birds in the 1970's, the population now stands at approximately 380 free-living individuals. It was close to follow the same fate of the sadly famous Dodo Raphus cucullatus if prompt conservation actions had not been undertaken.

The Pink Pigeon is one of the nine remaining bird species that are unique to Mauritius. Even though its population number is up, it could be the next to go extinct if we do not take action and sustain past efforts in saving this beautiful bird.

A recovery programme for the species was started in 1976 with the establishment of a captive population, and a reintroduction programme began after in 1987. Information provided from a Pink Pigeon population Viability Analysis suggests that the present population size can only be maintained by an intensive management regime, under which current survival and reproductive success rates exist.

With only 5% of the area of native forests remaining, since the arrival of settlers, today, the Pink Pigeon is restricted to small areas of native forests in our nature reserves and is being threatened by predators.

MWF & the CIEL Group saving the Pink Pigeon Project

MWF has been able to come a long way in the recovery of the Pink Pigeon because of an almost 100% international funding made available over the past 30 years. Today, foreign funding for their conservation projects in Mauritius can only be insured if equivalent local funding is being secured. This is also a way to hand over the responsibility to the Mauritian Community. It was essential for this season 06/07 that MWF secured funding from a local sponsor in order to ensure the continuation of implementation, and improve this crucial and successful conservation effort in saving the Pink Pigeon from extinction. For these reasons, the CIEL Group has taken this responsibility and committed itself in being an active partner in this project for three years.

How MWF works to save the Pink Pigeon

Close monitoring of the nests are carried out, allowing the identification and protection of clutches in the wild. Disease and predator control, demography studies and population dynamics are also part of the daily work in this recovery programme.

To ensure the survival of the Pink Pigeon, MWF has moved several breeding pairs on Ile aux Aigrettes so as to establish a new population. This site was selected as it is predator-free and has the last remnant of the native coastal forest. Next translocation might be the Ferney Valley that holds one of the remaining good native Mauritian forests.