Dodo : extinct but still going strong

The event has had world-wide repercussions: a mass grave of dodos has been discovered by Dutch scientists at Mare-aux-Songes, on Mon-Désert-Mon-Trésor Estate. Once upon a time, there lived a bird who fell under the predatory gaze of man. Defenceless and no doubt tasty, it was totally eradicated in a matter of years. Yet, it has decided to reveal its secrets: its bones consent to speak, now that we have become less deaf. ?This new find will allow the first scientific research into and reconstruction of the world in which the dodo lived, before western man landed on Mauritius and wiped out the species,? said a statement from the Dutch National Museum in Leiden. The find is significant : no complete skeleton of a single dodo had ever before been retrieved from an archaeological site in Mauritius. ?We have found 700 bones, including bones from 20 dodo birds and chicks, but we believe there are many more at the site,? said Kenneth Rijsdijk, a Dutch geologist from the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, who led the dig. Christian Foo Kune, from Mon Désert Mon Trésor, represented the local members of the team on site, with the help of Alan Grihault, author of ?Dodo, the bird behind the legend?, published this year.

A traditional fiery celebration

As in many parts of the world, firecrackers came into their own as people bade farewell to 2005 and greeted 2006. Most families gathered for New Year?s Eve must have spent a lot of money on burning the year out. Adults were busy chatting among themselves while youngsters were having fun with firecrackers and firework displays. Some families had a barbecue whereas others preferred to enjoy festive meals in hotels. The first day of 2006 was also celebrated in a religious way by many who went to churches and other places of worship to get God?s blessings and start the year on the right foot.