Our Facilities, Team and Bespoke Training

In Mauritius, through Durrell Conservation Training Ltd we offer direct access to a variety of species and habitat recovery projects that Durrell has been involved with since the late 1970’s. Here, you will be immersed within existing conservation projects and be taught the key field skills required of wildlife conservation professionals. You will gain first-hand experience and learn directly from field project managers and local wildlife organisations across Mauritius.

Our Mauritius training work is led by our staff members David Dérand and Aurélie Henshaw. 

We deliver much of our practical, field conservation training through our partnership with the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF) and the National Parks and Conservation Service of the Ministry of Agro Industry and Food Security of Mauritius.

MAURITIAN WILDLIFE FOUNDATION (MWF)

The Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF) is a non-governmental, non-profit conservation organisation working in Mauritius, Rodrigues and their offshore and outer islets to save threatened endemic flora and fauna from extinction. It was established in 1984 under the initiative of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and other conservation organisations. The conservation work in Mauritius began as a species orientated programme concentrating on a few critically endangered species, including the Mauritius Kestrel and the Pink Pigeon. In 1996, the organisation expanded its operations to habitat restoration, including the management of native forests and small islands. MWF is now perfecting whole ecosystem management and restoration of offshore islets with a focus on removing invasive species, replanting native vegetation, monitoring and reintroducing threatened bird and reptile species.

Round Island (Ile Ronde)

Located 22.5 kilometres off the north-east coast of Mauritius, the islet is a closed nature reserve and the second largest Mauritian island at 219ha with an elevation of 280m above sea level. Round Island represents one of the longest-running island restoration projects in the region, having been designated a nature reserve in 1957 and supporting the last remnant of a lowland palm rich community that formerly covered the dry lowland areas of Mauritius. It is jointly administered by the National Parks and Conservation Service and the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation. The Round Island field station and plant nursery and has been permanently staffed by wardens and conservation biologists since 2002. Selected as one of Durrell’s worldwide rewilding sites, the island has been the focus of a new long-term planning strategy aiming to restore the entire ecosystem and functionality.

Ile aux Aigrettes

Ile aux Aigrettes, Mauritius, sits within a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) and is also an established Nature Reserve, hosting a unique lowland coastal forest assemblage. A wide range of conservation activities are undertaken on Ile aux Aigrettes, including terrestrial bird and reptile reintroductions, flora restoration, conservation education and eco-tourism. This work sits within an established island restoration plan. It is therefore an ideal training site, providing exposure to a range of conservation work that can then be applied within and beyond KBAs elsewhere. The field station and facilities are well equipped to comfortably support 14 staff. The island also has an endemic plant nursery, a Visitor Centre, bird management aviaries and reptile head-starting facilities.