06/07/2026
Yesterday while shopping for fish at I met a customer of theirs and now my new friend. He is from Réunion Island off the north coast of Magadascar which is a country off the coast of East Africa in the Indian Ocean.
Madagascar is where the geckos live and the topic of a lecture I attended through (Bay Area Herpatological Society) last month.
I absolutely celebrate the connections I make through the many hobbies I have! I’ll introduce my two new friends to each other. You never now what synergy they make create together!
So my new friend Ariel taught me a new to me geographical and historical facts.
“Historical Context Alternatively, you might be thinking of Réunion Island (Île de la Réunion) in the context of Madagascar's royal history. Réunion is a French overseas department located east of Madagascar. It is historically significant as the first place of exile for Queen Ranavalona III, the last sovereign of the Kingdom of Madagascar, who was sent there by the French colonial forces in 1897.”
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/madagascars-extraordinary-last-queens-objects-are-sale-180976467/
Reunion island endangered species. Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean hosts a highly vulnerable ecosystem with numerous critically endangered and endemic species. Many face severe threats from invasive predators, habitat loss, and artificial light pollution, though dedicated local and international conservation efforts are actively working to protect them.Endangered and Threatened Species Mascarene Petrel (Pseudobulweria aterrima): A critically endangered, elusive, and entirely endemic seabird. It is highly susceptible to light-induced groundings—fledglings are disoriented by city lights and often fatally ground on the island.
Barau's Petrel (Pterodroma baraui): Another endemic seabird (classified as endangered) that breeds at high elevations on the island.
Réunion Cuckooshrike (Lalage newtoni): A critically endangered, endemic forest bird primarily found in the island's high-altitude and native highland forests.
Manapany Day Gecko (Phelsuma inexpectata): A striking, bright green endemic lizard whose coastal habitat has been severely fragmented by human development.
Sea Turtles: Both Green and Hawksbill turtles forage in the fringing reefs around the island and use its coastal beaches as critical nesting grounds. They are endangered by poaching, accidental fishing, and marine pollution.Endemic Flora: Several rare and critically endangered trees and flowering plants, such as the Bourbon Palm (Latania lontaroides) and the Barbel Palm, are highly threatened by invasive plants and past over-harvesting.Key Conservation ActionsPetrel Rescue Programs: Led by groups like SEOR (Société d’Etudes Ornithologiques de la Réunion), massive public rescue campaigns retrieve grounded seabirds, treat them, and release them safely to sea.Sea Turtle Protection: Organizations like Kelonia run dedicated sea turtle observatories and rehabilitation centers to study and protect foraging populations.Would you like to learn more about the conservation programs in place or how to participate in spotting wildlife responsibly on the island?
Artifacts linked to the royal are headed home following their purchase at auction by the African island's government
