Title
Best of the Wild- Wildlife Conservation Society and the Vatu-i-Ra LandSeascape
Author(s)
WCS Marine Program
Abstract
This extraordinary 7,500 square mile mosaic of forests, mangroves, seagrass meadows, reefs, deep channels, and seamounts is one of the Pacific’s last great wild places. It is home to the largest population of nesting hawksbills in Fiji as well as green and loggerhead turtles. It is one of the few remaining sanctuaries for the highly prized but globally endangered humphead wrasse, which animates the reef alongside bumphead parrotfish and white tip reef sharks. Local people thrill to frequent sightings of resident pilot whales and dolphins as well as humpback whales passing through on their annual migrations. Strong currents run through the deep Vatu-i-Ra channel, nourishing a magnificent diversity of more than 300 species of corals. These, in turn, sustain breeding colonies of frigate birds, black noddies, and red-footed boobies.
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