Wildlife Photography Hides in Réunion

Réunion is a French overseas territory of dramatic volcanic landscapes and exceptional endemic wildlife — an island where an active volcano meets cloud-wrapped rainforest harbouring some of the Indian Ocean's rarest birds. The Réunion Harrier (Circus maillardi), an endangered endemic, quarters the high plateau grasslands of Plaine des Cafres and the Cirque de Cilaos in long, low hunting flights — one of the most charismatic raptors in the Indian Ocean. The Forêt de Bébour-Bélouve at 1,200–1,600 metres altitude is the stronghold of the Réunion Cuckooshrike (Coracina newtoni), Réunion Olivine White-eye, Mascarene Paradise Flycatcher, and Réunion Bulbul — a morning walk in this cloud forest reliably produces all four endemic passerines. Most dramatically, Barau's Petrel — a Critically Endangered seabird found only on Réunion — nests on the highest reaches of Piton des Neiges (3,070 m) and can be observed on nocturnal colony visits accompanied by guides from SEOR (Société d'Études Ornithologiques de La Réunion) between December and March. In the marine environment, Humpback Whales use Réunion's sheltered western lagoon between July and October as a mother-calf resting area, photographed from research vessels operated by GLOBICE within strict approach protocols. Green Turtles nest on beaches in the south and can be snorkelled at La Réserve Naturelle Marine.