Africa-Press – Mauritius. A delegation from Durell Wildlife Conservation Trust (DWCT), Jersey, led by Dr Carl Jones, Scientific Director (Mauritian Wildlife Foundation – MWF) and Chief Scientist (Durrell), met the Attorney General, Minister of Agro-Industry and Food Security, Mr Maneesh Gobin, this morning at Renganaden Seeneevassen Building, in Port-Louis.
The delegation comprises Mr Chris Ransom, Director of Field Programmes, Ms Eleanor Harvie, Field Programmes Manager, Dr Nicolas Cole, and Dr Vikash Tatayah, Conservation Director at the MWF. DWCT is one among the first Conservation Organisations and has the mission to save species from Extinction.
The aim of the team’s visit in Mauritius was to view the different conservation works in progress carried out jointly by National Parks and Conservation Service, Durell Wildlife Conservation Trust and the MWF.
In a statement following the meeting, Dr Jones highlighted that discussions with Minister Gobin focused on the development of long-term visions for conservation and for long-term collaboration, doing more research, train young Mauritians, and develop the capacity of Mauritius on conservation.
Durell, he recalled, is one of the partners that is involved in sponsoring the work and in driving the work by doing the research. Dr Jones further spoke about Durell’s interest in setting up a long-term vision for conservation not over two- or three-years but what the Conservation Organisation would like Mauritius to be in a hundred years.
As for Mr Ransom, he stated that the trip in Mauritius has been fantastic and the delegation has seen the work achieved in the country through the partnership of Durell, the MWF and the Government of Mauritius on for more than 40 years.
It has been fantastic just to see the impact of the real difference that is being made, he emphasised. According to him, nine species have been saved from extinction over the years which has been an amazing effort and something that Mauritius, Durell and the MWF should be extremely proud of. We know that we are going to be involved many more years to help further conservation efforts in the country, he added.
During its mission, the DWCT team visited the following sites: Round Island to view the conservation work in progress and to review the Island’s long-term conservation plan; Gerald Durrell Endemic Wildlife Sanctuary (GDEWS) and the captive breeding facility and ongoing captive breeding of different avifauna, including the Critically Endangered Olive White Eye; the Black River Gorges National Park to view the Release sites and ongoing Echo Parakeet and Pink Pigeon Rescue Programmes; and the South East Islets to view the Reptile Conservation work and mitigating measures taken post-Wakashio.
The DWCT delegation also had a scientific meeting to discuss on the research/science needs for the conservation work in future, and joined the National Fruit Bat Survey team as part of the field visit.
Durrell has applied its core approach to conservation action in the Mascarenes with intensive ongoing operations in the field, supported by ex-situ activities, and training for the next generation of conservation leaders in the region through Durrell’s Conservation Academy and postgraduate internship course within Mauritius.
This approach and long-term partnership with the Government of Mauritius to help establish protected areas, reintroduce threatened birds and reptiles, eradicate and control invasive predators, restore island ecosystems and raise awareness for species protection have been the backbone of conservation actions that have prevented extinction events over the past three decades.
The DWCT is thus a long-term partner working with the Government of Mauritius through the National Parks and Conservation Service and MWF since the 1970s.
For More News And Analysis About Mauritius Follow Africa-Press
