Gerald Durrell Endemic Wildlife Sanctuary

The Gerald Durrell Endemic Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected facility located within the Black River Gorge, where dense forest covers the landscape. The site contains specialized breeding areas in controlled environments for native species that exist only on Mauritius.

The sanctuary was founded in 1984 and played a key role in saving the Mauritius kestrel when only four birds remained in the wild. This successful breeding effort became a model for species recovery programs around the world.

The sanctuary shows Mauritius's commitment to saving species found nowhere else on Earth through hands-on scientific work. You can observe how local experts care for these rare animals every day as part of their conservation efforts.

The facility is not open to regular tourists since it operates as a research center. Visits are available only for professionals or educational groups that arrange permission in advance.

The facility runs specialized programs for several endangered species like the pink pigeon and echo parakeet, both native only to this island. These breeding efforts aim to strengthen the populations so that animals can eventually be released back into the wild.

GPS coordinates: -20.41667,57.33333

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:23