Dodo Tales

Mauritius is also known worldwide as the home of the Dodo. The Dodo (Raphus cucullatus) was a flightless bird endemic to the island of Mauritius. The Dodo was gray in color, related to the pigeon family because of its internal anatomical similarities but differs largely in size.

The Dodo had broad and heavy wings, clumsy body and its breastbone was too small to support huge pectoral muscles to flight. It weighted about 13 - 23 kg and was about 3.3 meters. The Dodo had a large hooked beak and feathers attached to its tail.

Why Dodo?

There are two speculations on where the name for the Dodo came from. The more accepted source is the Dutch word "dodoor" which mean "sluggard." This word describes both the Dodo's looks and appearance. The other speculation is that the name comes from the Portuguese word "doudo" which, meaning foolish or simple.

Extinction of the dodo

First sighted at 1598, the Dodo became extinct about eighty years later at 1681. The Dodo was discovered as the Dutch were cutting down the forest, which was the Dodo’s shelter and source of food. Once the forest was cut down the Dodo’s eggs and the Dodo’s babies were eaten by rats and pigs. People believe that the Dodo was last seen at around 1681.

The Dodo did not have any types of predators before the arrival of settlers in the island. They were passive creatures even when approached by human visitors for the first time. This made it very easy for the settlers of the Island to catch them.

Although the tale of the Dodo's demise is well documented, no complete specimens of the bird were preserved but only fragments and sketches. Unfortunately the Dodo is just one of the bird species driven to extinction on Mauritius. Many others were lost in the 19th century when the dense Mauritian forests were converted into tea and sugar plantations.

Mauritius and the Dodo Today

It is to be noted that the Dodo appears in Mauritian currency notes, used as a watermark for its originality and when held up to the light the image of the Dodo’s head can be clearly viewed.

Today it is possible to find the Dodo almost everywhere in Mauritius. You will find many establishments who have Dodo as part of their name and symbols, also when shopping around you are sure to find many Mauritius souvenirs of the Dodo including small statues, drawings, textile, ashtrays and many more, all proudly carrying the symbol of the Dodo.

Mauritius Dodo Museum - Dodo Specimens

The Natural History Museum of Mauritius (Musee d'Histoire Naturelle de Port Louis) has the only complete skeleton of one single Dodo found in Mauritius in the swamp of Mare-Aux Songes. The entrance to this Museum is free of charge.

Dodo News!

Dodo bones discovered on Mauritius in 2005. During 2005, a Dutch-Mauritian research team discovered the very first intact layer of bones and botanical materials, including Dodo’s remains. The material's age is estimated at 2000 to 3000 years. This new find will allow the first scientific research and reconstruction of the world in which the Dodo lived, before western man landed on Mauritius and wiped out the species.

The fossil material was excavated in an area of Mauritius called "Mare aux Songes", a low-lying swamp area in the dry southeastern part of Mauritius. The discovery yielded several Dodo bones, including remains of Dodo chicks and a very rare part of the bird's beak, only a few of which are known to exist in the entire world.