The Mauritian fauna and flora was disrupted during the 18th century when the Dutch settlers brought in numerous exotic species.  

As a result, there are very few species that are strictly endemic to Mauritius. 
One cannot speak of the Mauritian fauna without mentioning the marine world where thousands of multicoloured tropical fish live.  An enchanting milieu that is easily accessible. 

The arrival of the Dutch at the end of the 16^th century led to the extinction of most of the indigenous species living in Mauritius.
The most famous one, the dodo, was a strange bird weighing about 25kg that was slaughtered until it became extinct along with other species such as the Giant Aldabran Turtles.
The only mammal that existed on the island prior to the arrival of man was the bat.  Still present on the island, this specie can be observed at the Vanilla Park in the south of Mauritius.

During the colonisation of the island, man introduced several mammals:
• The deer (from Java, intrduced by the Dutch in the 17^th century)
• The wild boar 
• The Giant Aldabran Turtles (from Madagascar and the Seychelles - they can be admired in the numerous wildlife parks on the island)
• The hare
• The mongoose (introduced in order to combat the proliferation of rats in the sugar cane fields)
• The monkeys (the macaques)

The birds 

The best-known bird in Mauritius is the dodo.   It has indeed become the symbol of the country.  It became extinct in the 17^th century, as it was particularly easy to catch. 
However, there is another famous bird in Mauritius: the White-tailed Tropic Bird (Phaethon lepturus) another symbol of Mauritius.     

Introduced Species:

• The Red-whiskered Bulbul (Pycnonotus jocosus)
• The Cardinal from Madagascar (Foudia madagascariensis)
• The Cape Canary (Ploceus cucullatus)
• The Turtledove (the small one is called Geopelia striata, and the huge one, Streptopelia chinensis)
• The Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)
• The Waxbill (Estrilda astrild)
• The pigeon
• The Sparrow

Rare endemic species:

• The White-Eyed bird (Zosterops chloronotos)
• The Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone bourbonnensis)
• The Cuckoo-shrike (Coracina typica)
• The Mauritius Fody (Foudia rubra)

Endangered Species:

Thanks to the contribution of the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation, these birds have been saved from extinction: the kestrel (Falco punctatus), the pink pigeon (Columba mayeri) and the Mauritius Parakeet (Psittacula eques).

Exotic and indigenous species: 

• The White-tailed Tropic bird (Phaethon lepturus)
• The Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus pacificus)

The Reptiles 

There are no dangerous reptiles in Mauritius.  The most common reptile is undoubtedly the gecko: a small insectivore lizard from warm regions.  It usually lives in houses.  The reptiles are harmless, just like frogs, chameleons and grass snakes. 
One can also find crocodiles at the Vanilla Park in the south of the island.   

Insects

Mauritius is home to at least 3000 insect species that are particularly varied and multicoloured.  Whilst some are harmful and unpleasant, such as mosquitoes, cockroaches and wasps, others, such as butterflies and dragonflies, are graceful.  The "Musée d'Histoire Naturelle" in Port Louis displays various specimens in its windows.  The insects on Ile Ronde and Ile aux Aigrettes live happily as they are protected from any threats.  These islands are declared part of the Natural World Heritage sites.       

The Marine fauna

Mauritius is renowned the world over for its wealth of marine fauna.  An extraordinary variety of multicoloured fish of different shapes and sizes, living in the blue turquoise lagoons, can be spotted in the surrounding coral reefs. 
With the availability of several diving agencies along the coast, it is very easy to go off to explore the fish in their authentic and natural habitats.   

These marine fauna treasures are greatly appreciated by big game fishing enthusiasts.  Indeed, the beaches in Mauritius are ideal for this adrenaline sport.  Every year, there are numerous water sports lovers who come to Mauritius to take part in international competitions. Tunas, blue marlins and swordfish can be spotted in the open seas of Mauritius.