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Grande Montagne Nature Reserve

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Entrance to Grande Montagne Reserve

Grande Montagne Nature Reserve is a 20 ha nature reserve on the island of Rodrigues, preserving one of the last remnants of the island's endemic forest.[1]

Description

Endemic vegetation at Grande Montagne
View from one of the lookout points
Forest trail

It is located in the high Grand Montagne mountains, in the central eastern part of the island.

The reserve contains an education and information centre, remains of the extinct Solitaire and giant tortoise species, and the only remaining endemic species of the island - the Rodrigues Fruit Bat (Pteropus rodricensis), Fody (Foudia flavicans) and Warbler (Acrocephalus rodericanus).

It has several viewing points over the eastern part of the island, and a wide range of rare endemic plants. The reserve is also the only remaining habitat of the endemic Rodrigues Aloe (Aloe lomatophylloides).

It runs guided tours and the routes through the reserve contain information signs.[2][3][4]

History and management

The reserve is run by the national NGO, the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation (MWF). The MWF and the Rodrigues Forestry Services have been conducting restoration work in the reserve since the 1980s

References