The pink pigeon (Nesoenas mayeri ) is a species of pigeon in the family Columbidae endemic to Mauritius. The pink pigeon nearly became extinct in the 1970s and the 1990s and is still very rare. It is the only Mascarene pigeon that has not gone extinct. It was on the brink of extinction in 1991 when only 10 individuals remained, but its numbers have increased due to the efforts of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust since 1977. While the population remains at below 500 birds as of 2011, the IUCN downlisted the species from Critically endangered to Endangered on the IUCN Red List in 2000, and then downlisted it again to Vulnerable in 2018.
The Pink pigeon is a rare species of pigeon endemic to Mauritius that nearly became extinct in the 1990s. It was on the brink of extinction in 1991 when only 10 individuals remained, but its numbers have increased due to the efforts of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust since 1977.
Pink pigeons occur only on the Mascarene island of Mauritius, a small island to the east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean, and the tiny predator-free island of Isle aux Aigrettes off its eastern coast. These birds prefer upland evergreen forests but can also be found in coastal forests with native vegetation and plantations.
Pink pigeons are do not migrate but they perform short trips between the roosting sites and the foraging areas. They feed by day in pairs or family groups in the canopy of trees or on the forest floor. When foraging on the ground they move and turn over leaf litter in order to find food and grit (for use as gizzard stones). During the flight, Pink pigeons produce a short, hardened 'hoo hoo' and the territorial call of males' sounds as a series of coos.
Pink pigeons are herbivores (folivores, frugivores, granivores) and feed on both exotic and native plants. Their diet includes buds, flowers, leaves, shoots, fruits, and seeds.
Pink pigeons are monogamous and generally mate for life. Their breeding season begins in August-September, although birds may breed all year round. The male courts the female with a "step and bow" display. The pair nests in a tree where it makes a flimsy platform nest and defends a small area around it from other mating pairs. The female usually lays 2 white eggs, and the incubation duration is 2 weeks. The male incubates during the day, and the female during the night and early day. The chicks hatch with their eyes closed and are fed entirely on crop milk. They fledge at the age of 2-4 weeks but still remain parent-fed. After 4 to 7 weeks the young leave the nest and become independent.
Habitat degradation, introduced predators, and wildlife disease are the major ongoing threats to the Pink pigeon's survival. Only 2% of the native forest remains in Mauritius, with the majority of these remaining forests on upland slopes around the Black River Gorge National Park. Common predators include the crab-eating macaque, the small Asian mongoose, rats, and feral cats. Invasive plant species, such as the Chinese guava and privet, dominate native forest plants, preventing their growth. Without these native plant species, Pink pigeons find it hard to locate sound nesting locations or food sources. Extreme weather events such as cyclones may also further the degradation of their habitat.
According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Pink pigeon is around 375-490 individuals. Currently, this species is classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are stable.