Overview of a Game Bird Species Introduced to Reunion Island in the 18th Century, the Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus)

Abstract

The Grey Francolin (Francolinus pondicerianus) was introduced to Reunion Island in the XVIIIth century for hunting purposes. This species is little known locally, as it has rarely been studied as other game birds on the island. The aim of this study was to define the current state of Grey Francolin populations on Reunion Island. We showed Grey Francolin's distribution area covers today 3500 ha and is made up of two isolated and geographically opposed zones on the island. One is located in the north of the island and is mostly made up of sugarcanes fields. The second, in the South, is a secondary dry forest. We estimated a density of 9.3 ± 2.0 singing males per km² and thus an abundance of 324 ± 41 singing males on Reunion Island. Density was higher in the southern secondary dry forest zone (10.5 ± 2.8 singing males per km²) than in the northern sugarcane fields (6.6 ± 2.0 singing males per km²). From the 1950s', the Grey Francolin's distribution has shrunk and become more fragmented. The main factors implicated are changes in farming practices (mechanisation, pesticides), excessive urbanisation and, to finish, excessive hunting and poaching (in the past).