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| Mauritius parakeet | |
|---|---|
| Name | Mauritius parakeet |
| Status | Critically Endangered (recovered) |
| Status system | IUCN3.1 |
| Genus | Psittacula |
| Species | eques |
| Authority | (Linnaeus, 1766) |
Mauritius parakeet The Mauritius parakeet is a small endemic parrot species of Mauritius, historically confined to the island of Mauritius. Rediscovered and the focus of intensive conservation, the species became a flagship for island restoration involving multiple conservation organizations and international partnerships. Recovery efforts have involved collaboration among institutions, governments, and NGOs.
The species was described by Carl Linnaeus in the 18th century and placed in the genus Psittacula, a group that includes Asian and African parakeets such as the Rose-ringed parakeet and the Nanday parakeet. Phylogenetic studies referencing collections from museums like the Natural History Museum, London and research from universities including University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, and University of Mauritius have clarified relationships among Mascarene psittacines such as the extinct Mauritius blue pigeon and the related extinct Réunion parakeet. Taxonomic revisions have engaged authorities like the International Ornithologists' Union and editors associated with the Handbook of the Birds of the World.
Adults are medium-sized parrots within the family Psittacidae, exhibiting green plumage with sexual dimorphism noted by subtle differences between males and females, comparable in size to species like the Alexandrine parakeet. Field guides from institutions such as the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and publications by the BirdLife International partnership provide detailed morphometrics. Juveniles resemble adults but show paler coloration similar to descriptions in the collections of the American Museum of Natural History.
Historically recorded across Mauritius and nearby islets in accounts by explorers linked to the Dutch East India Company, the species’ range contracted to fragments in areas like the Black River Gorges National Park and privately owned forest fragments near Bel Ombre. Surveys by teams from the Mauritius Wildlife Foundation and the Royal Society for Nature Conservation used methods developed in studies at institutes such as Cornell University and University of Exeter to map remaining habitat. Habitat consists of native evergreen forest and secondary woodland, often near sites managed under projects funded by the Global Environment Facility and executed with assistance from the World Wide Fund for Nature.
The parakeet is primarily frugivorous and granivorous, feeding on native trees documented in botanical works by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and the Mauritius Herbarium. Breeding biology—including clutch size, nesting phenology, and fledging success—has been monitored by teams collaborating with the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and the Zoological Society of London. Nesting in tree cavities makes the species reliant on old-growth trees catalogued by forestry departments and NGOs like the Island Conservation Society. Observational studies following protocols from the British Trust for Ornithology and tagging work linked to the Max Planck Institute have clarified movement patterns and social structure.
Once reduced to a population crisis, recovery programs combined habitat restoration pioneered by the Mauritius Council of Agriculture with species-specific interventions advised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature specialist groups. Intensive management by the Mauritius Wildlife Foundation, with funding and expertise from bodies including the European Union, the United Nations Development Programme, and bilateral aid agencies, led to population increases documented in reports by BirdLife International and peer-reviewed articles authored with collaborators from the University of East Anglia and Duke University.
Historic threats included deforestation linked to plantation agriculture promoted by colonial administrations such as those of France and United Kingdom, and predation by introduced mammals like the Black rat and the Small Indian mongoose introduced through shipping routes associated with companies such as the British East India Company. Current management addresses nest predation, disease surveillance in coordination with veterinary services at institutions like the Royal Veterinary College, and habitat protection enforced under Mauritian legislation through agencies modeled on frameworks used by the Convention on Biological Diversity. Invasive plant control is implemented drawing on experience from projects supported by the Global Invasive Species Programme.
Captive breeding programs have been run by collections and conservation centers including the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust, Mauritius Wildlife Foundation breeding facilities, and partner zoos such as the London Zoo and San Diego Zoo. Reintroduction and soft-release protocols were informed by best practices from the IUCN Reintroduction Specialist Group and executed alongside community outreach supported by the Mauritius Ministry of Agro-Industry and Food Security. Genetic management used guidelines developed by the Population Management Media and academic partners at Universidad de Barcelona ensured maintenance of genetic diversity during translocations.
Category:Psittacula Category:Birds of Mauritius