The Imperial College Zoological Expedition to Mauritius (1970) documents a six‑week scientific field study conducted by a team of zoology students supported by the Imperial College Exploration Board. The report opens with an overview of Mauritius—its geography, climate, history, and socioeconomic context—highlighting its dense population, multilingual culture, and reliance on sugar production. With assistance from the Mauritius Sugar Industry Research Institute (M.S.I.R.I.) and local contacts, the team established accommodation, transport, and laboratory facilities enabling extensive field investigations.
The expedition pursued multiple research projects reflecting the students’ specialisms in parasitology and entomology. A major study investigated Schistosoma haematobium (“bilharzia”) and its intermediate snail host Bulinus cernicus. By sampling water across diverse habitats, the team analysed pH, hardness, calcium, chloride, oxygen, and organic content to explore environmental factors influencing snail morphology and parasite ecology. Several sites had dried up seasonally, limiting consistent comparisons, but preliminary analyses suggested possible links between calcium levels and snail size.
A second project examined parasites of economically significant freshwater and marine fish species, including Tilapia melanopleura, Mugil cephalus, and Siganus vermiculatus. Freshwater tilapia showed no helminth infections, likely due to environmental conditions and agricultural management practices. Marine species were largely parasite‑free except for a heavy monogenean gill parasite infection in S. vermiculatus, involving what appeared to be a previously undescribed species.
Entomological work included extensive light‑trap sampling of Lepidoptera across Mauritius, identifying around 185 species, with at least 44 new records for the island and several potentially new species. Additional research on sugar‑cane pests evaluated susceptibility of cane varieties to borer infestation, finding the new S17 variety moderately more vulnerable than some existing strains but broadly suitable for cultivation.
Finally, a nematode survey revealed unexpectedly low soil and root nematode populations, with Pratylenchus and Helicotylenchus most common and Heterodera sacchari absent.
Overall, the expedition produced valuable ecological and taxonomic insights while strengthening scientific ties between Imperial College and Mauritian institutions.