François Leguat Giant Tortoise and Cave Reserve
François Leguat Giant Tortoise and Cave Reserve ("Francois Leguat Reserve") is a park and nature reserve on the island of Rodrigues, dedicated to protecting the fauna and flora of the island. The reserve first opened in August 2007, part of the same project as La Vanille Reserve in Mauritius. It is named after the 18th century Huguenot settler François Leguat, who recorded much of the island's natural flora and fauna before it went extinct. The reserve includes a museum, several education centres and information areas, and a restaurant.[1]
Description
The fauna
Rodrigues was once home to two unique and
By early accounts, the tall
The tortoises however, played a crucial role in the health of the island's indigenous vegetation and ecosystems. Their movements and grazing rejuvenated the vegetation and the seeds of many plants needed the tortoises for dispersal and germination. For this reason, nearly two hundred years after the extinction of their endemic predecessors, the reserve introduced 500
Other animals include the Rodrigues Fruit Bat (
The flora
The reserve conserves a portion of Rodrigues island's almost extinct coastal flora. Along with Anse Quitor Nature Reserve next door, it is the only remaining patch of this ecosystem.
The vegetation is being restored and over 100,000 plants from 33 indigenous and endemic species have been planted. The giant tortoises perform an important role - once played by Rodrigues extinct giant tortoise species - of rejuvenating and maintaining the ecosystem, through their grazing and movements.[5][6]
The caves
The cave system in the reserve includes the Grande-Caverne (500 meters long) and the Caverne-de-la-Vierge (255 meters), along with others that are closed or not yet rehabilitated. The reserve's tours include a trip through the caves, which are the only caves in the Indian Ocean equipped with lights.
Location
Francois Leguat Reserve is located on the Anse Quitor peninsula in the south-west of the island, a few hundred meters from the Rodrigues airport and right beside Anse Quitor Nature Reserve (not yet open to the public).[7]
References
- ^ "StackPath". www.tortoisescavereserve-rodrigues.com.
- ^ Leguat de la Fougère, François (1707-8). Voyage et avantures de François Leguat & de ses compagnons en deux îles déserte des Indes Orientales. Amsterdam: J.J. de Lorme. 2 vols. (in French).
- ^ "Recently Extinct Animals - Species Info - Saddle-backed Rodrigues Giant Tortoise". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
- ^ Cheke A, Hume J (2008). Lost Land of the Dodo: An Ecological History of Mauritius, Réunion & Rodrigues. London: T & AD Poyser.
- ^ Burney, David A. (20 May 2011). "Rodrigues Island: Hope thrives at the François Leguat Giant Tortoise and Cave Reserve". Madagascar Conservation & Development. 6 (1): 3–4 – via www.journalmcd.com.
- ^ "François Leguat Giant Tortoise and Cave Reserve - A view from our expert author". www.bradtguides.com. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "La Réserve François Leguat". 8 November 2018.
External links