Round Island – a Tale of Destruction

Abstract

Round Island, off Mauritius, is a classic example of the disasters that can follow the introduction of potential pests such as goats and rabbits on a small island. Their destruction of the vegetation inevitably leads to the destruction of the wildlife, and on Round Island this includes four reptiles that are endemic, several that are local to Mauritius and its islands, and several endemic plants. The author was a member of a scientific party which spent five weeks studying the island in July and August 1975.