| Mauritius is a beautiful island boasting rare and | | | | whole host of colourful creatures may be found. Tuna, |
| interesting wildlife. From the colourful fish inhabiting the | | | | marlin, barracuda, shark and sailfish swim this region of |
| coral reefs to the giant turtles roaming the land, to the | | | | the ocean, fished by the locals and used to create |
| beautiful birds that command the air, nature lovers will | | | | delicious fresh seafood dishes which you can enjoy at |
| be in awe on a Mauritius holiday. | | | | your Mauritius hotel. The coral reef surrounding the |
| Animals on the Island | | | | island is also home to an array of sponges, sea |
| Being an island, the majority of wildlife resident in | | | | anemones and spikey, making diving an excellent |
| Mauritius (with the exception of mammals) are | | | | activity on any Mauritius holiday. As you dive into the |
| endemic, and you can expect to see a range of | | | | warm waters, you will be amazed at the colourful |
| interesting animals on your holidays in Mauritius. If you | | | | clown and box fish, trumpet, lionfish and stonefish that |
| find bats interesting, you will be pleased to learn that | | | | swim by. |
| fruit bats are the only mammals endemic to the island. | | | | It is important to remember that the coral reef is |
| Unlike other smaller bats, fruit bats have an enormous | | | | protected by the Mauritius Marine Conservation |
| wing span (nearly a metre), and to make their | | | | Society, and collecting shells and coral on your holiday |
| appearance even more regal, they have a golden | | | | in Mauritius may seem appealing, but it is depleting the |
| orange colour around their head and shoulders, like a | | | | natural environment, and the activity has been banned |
| halo or a crown. You won't be likely to spot one of the | | | | from the beaches. |
| amazing creatures during the day on your Mauritius | | | | Birds of the Air |
| holiday because they nest in the gorges and on the | | | | Whilst birdlife in Mauritius is the object of |
| mountainside, but you could spot them flying past you | | | | conservationists, the Mauritius kestrel, pink pigeon and |
| at night. | | | | emerald-green echo parakeet have happily been |
| Other mammals you may spot whilst on your Mauritius | | | | saved from extinction, and you could be lucky enough |
| holiday are Javan deer, forest monkeys and feral pigs. | | | | to spot these colourful birds on your Mauritius holiday. |
| While these mammals may not be endemic to the | | | | Other interesting and more commonly-sighted birds |
| island, they are interesting to see nonetheless. | | | | include fly-catchers, bulbuls and white-eyes, and you're |
| One of the oldest creatures to inhabit the island is the | | | | likely to spot these feathered creatures on holiday in |
| giant tortoise, having lived on the island in for over a | | | | Mauritius. |
| hundred years; these creatures should be respected | | | | Island Vegetation |
| and revered when on your Mauritius holiday. The | | | | For nature lovers, Mauritius holidays could prove to be |
| tortoises really are giant, with a length of up to a metre | | | | inspirational, with some fascinating vegetation to be |
| and weight up to 250kg. Other reptiles you could spot | | | | discovered. One of the most beautiful and rarest |
| on holidays in Mauritius are the day-gecko, and skinks, | | | | plants in the world is the Mandrinette, which is a pretty |
| which may be smaller, but are colourful and interesting | | | | pink or colour. You can walk through the Black River |
| to look at. | | | | Gorges National Park, where tropical plants and |
| In the Waters | | | | excellent views await you. |
| In the Indian Ocean waters which surround the island, a | | | | |