Réunion

África

123

Documented species

Parks and reserves

Dive sites

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Réunion is a young volcanic island in the Indian Ocean dominated by two massifs: the Piton des Neiges, extinct, and the Piton de la Fournaise, one of the most active volcanoes on the planet, which erupts every few months. Erosion has carved three gigantic cirques with vertical walls into the older massif, Cilaos, Salazie and Mafate, which together with the remparts form a landscape declared a World Heritage Site. Almost half the island is national park and keeps highland tamarind forests, tropical heathland and lowland rainforest. The island lost much of its original wildlife after colonisation, but it still holds endemic seabirds that nest in the mountains and come down to the sea to feed.

The nature of Réunion

National animal: The red-tailed tropicbird, the island's emblematic bird

Did you know?

Barau's petrel breeds above two thousand metres, in burrows dug into the slopes of the island's interior, and goes down to the sea to feed. Every April, the chicks setting out on their first night flight towards the ocean are disorientated by the lights of the towns and fall to the ground in their thousands. Each year the island organises nights without lights and public collection campaigns to return them to the sea.

Biodiversity profile

Islas del Índico

Main biomes

•Volcán activo
•Circo de erosión y rempart
•Bosque de tamarindos de altura
•Selva húmeda de tierras bajas
•Brezal tropical de altitud
•Arrecife de coral
•Barranco encajado

Flagship wildlife

•Petrel de Barau
•Rabijunco colirrojo
•Ballena jorobada
•Tortuga verde
•Petrel negro de Reunión
•Delfín mular
•Zorro volador
•Papamoscas de Reunión
•Camaleón pantera
•Tortuga carey

Notable endemic species

•Petrel de Barau
•Petrel negro de Reunión
•Ave gris de Reunión
•Salangana de Reunión
•Geco verde de Manapany

Notable protected areas

•Parque Nacional de Reunión
•Piton de la Fournaise
•Circo de Mafate
•Reserva Marina de Reunión
•Bosque de Bébour-Bélouve
•Circo de Salazie

Conservation

Invasive species, above all rats, cats and exotic plants, and light pollution are the main threats to the endemic seabirds. The Manapany day gecko survives along a few kilometres of coast in the south of the island.

Where and when to watch wildlife

The west coast between June and October for humpback whales. The interior of the national park in April during the nights without lights. Bébour-Bélouve at dawn for endemic forest birds.