Where the Wild Things Are

The Spice of Life

Leyla Aliyeva takes a trip into the unknown, to discover for herself the astounding variety of flora and fauna in Madagascar, Mauritius and Réunion.

I had long dreamt of visiting Madagascar – a wondrous island with amazing wildlife. So, late in 2016, I travelled to the Indian Ocean to see not only Madagascar, but also Mauritius and Réunion.

The purpose of my trip was, as always, to see new places that are known for their diverse flora and fauna – both for personal passions and for my IDEA campaign (International Dialogue for Environmental Action). I wasn’t sure what to expect, but what I found were three totally different islands, each beautiful in its own way.

Réunion is like a little slice of France in the tropics. Mauritius is famed for its coastline, but its less well known interior features soaring volcanic peaks, plunging waterfalls and dense rainforest home to many bird species, including the endangered pink pigeon.

**Salazie, a volcanic caldera in the French commune of Réunion, shrouded in mist**

**The Avenue of Baobabs is one of the most-visited sites in Madagascar, with trees up to 800 years old**

Madagascar, meanwhile, is the world’s fourth largest island – twice the size of the UK – yet was isolated for more than 160 million years, which means 70 per cent of its wildlife and 90 per cent of its plant species are found nowhere else in the world. How mind-blowing!

While the contrasts were great, the islands are united by their animals, from the lemurs of Madagascar to the giant tortoises on Mauritius and the huge flying foxes of Réunion.

It was particularly moving to see how the islanders treasure their wildlife. In Madagascar, the locals are exceptionally proud to share their home with the world’s biggest population of lemurs. Even here, however, their numbers are decreasing and the people are striving to protect them.

Réunion is like a little slice of France in the tropics. Mauritius is famed for its coastline, but its less well known interior features soaring volcanic peaks, plunging waterfalls and dense rainforest home to many bird species, including the endangered pink pigeon.

For me, more wildlife means a richer Earth. No matter how much progress humans make, we can never recreate the beauty of this planet.