THE DODO BIRD AND THE TAMBALACOQUE TREE


Dodo and Tree, acrylic on art block, 2019.

The dodo (Raphus cucullatus) is a turkey-sized, flightless bird of the pigeon family which is native to the island of Mauritius, where it was made the national symbol. The dodo was exterminated by European sailors who settled on the island in the 17th century. During its lifetime, the dodo is said to have a symbiotic relationship with a native tree called the tambalacoque (Sideroxylon grandiflorum), which is also nicknamed the "dodo tree" for this relationship. The fruits of the tree are consumed by the dodo birds and its seeds pass through the bird's digestive system before germinating. Although the dodo bird became extinct in the late 1600s, the tambalacoque continued to live on as there are also other animals such as the local birds, bats and tortoises which helped disperse its seeds in a similar manner.

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