History UsefulNotes / ReunionIsland

The best known animal native to Réunion island (as well as nearby UsefulNotes/{{Mauritius}} and Rodrigues) is the extinct [[DoofyDodo dodo bird]]. Though [[ScienceMarchesOn nowadays]] most naturalists are convinced that the ''Solitaire de la Réunion'' ("Loner of the Reunion") was rather an ibis, nowhere close to the dodo bird nor the [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodrigues_solitaire Rodrigues solitaire]], which were cousins of pigeons and doves, their closest living relative being the pigeon of [[https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicobar_pigeon Nicobar islands]].

The best known animal native to Réunion island (as well as nearby UsefulNotes/{{Mauritius}} and Rodrigues) is the extinct [[DoofyDodo dodo bird]]. Though [[ScienceMarchesOn now]] most naturalists are convinced that the ''Solitaire de la Réunion'' ("Loner of the Reunion") was nowhere close to the dodo bird nor the Rodrigues solitaire which were cousins of pigeons and doves, their living most close relative the pigeon of Nicobar islands) but rather an ibis.
[[FunnilyEnough {{Irony}}]], the iconic local beer ''Bourbon'' has been named ''La Dodo'' for most of its history, and is still nicknamed as such, with its logo remaining the bird. While the iconic beer from Mauritius, home of the true dodo, is called ''Phoenix'' and makes none reference to the dodo...

The best known animal native to Réunion island (as well as nearby UsefulNotes/{{Mauritius}} and Rodrigues) is the extinct [[DoofyDodo dodo bird]]. Though [[ScienceMarchesOn now]] most naturalists are convinced that the ''Solitaire de la Réunion'' ("Reunion's Loner") was nowhere close to the dodo bird (a cousin of pigeons and doves, most closely related to the pigeon of Nicobar islands) but rather an ibis.

The best known animal native to Réunion island (as well as nearby UsefulNotes/{{Mauritius}} and Rodrigues) is the extinct [[DoofyDodo dodo bird]].

** President of the Regional Council: Didier Robert

An island east of UsefulNotes/{{Madagascar}} and southwest of UsefulNotes/{{Mauritius}} in the Indian Ocean, Réunion ('''French:''' ''La Réunion'') is an [[UsefulNotes/DepartementalIssues overseas region]] of UsefulNotes/{{France}}, an outermost region of UsefulNotes/TheEuropeanUnion and the most prosperous island in the Indian Ocean, having the highest GDP per capita in the region. In addition to the capital and largest city of the territory, Saint-Denis, this territory also contains the capital and largest city of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Saint-Pierre. With a population of 850,000 on just over 2,500 square kilometers (970 square miles), Réunion is one of the most densely-populated places in the world (it's actually more densely populated than the notoriously crowded ''UsefulNotes/{{Japan}}''). In practical terms it's ''even denser'': the interior of the island is largely mountainous rainforest not conducive to development, so nearly all the population lives in a "ring" along the coast.

An island east of Madagascar and southwest of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, Réunion ('''French:''' ''La Réunion'') is an overseas region of France, an outermost region of the European Union and the most prosperous island in the Indian Ocean, having the highest GDP per capita in the region. In addition to the capital and largest city of the territory, Saint-Denis, this territory also contains the capital and largest city of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Saint-Pierre. With a population of 850,000 on just over 2,500 square kilometers (970 square miles), Réunion is one of the most densely-populated places in the world (it's actually more densely populated than the notoriously crowded ''UsefulNotes/{{Japan}}''). In practical terms it's ''even denser'': the interior of the island is largely mountainous rainforest not conducive to development, so nearly all the population lives in a "ring" along the coast.

Originally claimed by the French in 1642, the island was colonized in 1665, when the French East India Company sent the first settlers. Africans, Chinese and Indians were imported as workers, contributed to ethnic diversity in the population, and most of the non-Europeans were enslaved from 1690 until the territory abolished slavery on the 20th of December, 1848. Afterwards, many of the foreign workers came as indentured workers. The Vichy regime took control of the island in UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, until the Free French liberated the island with the destroyer Léopard on the 30th of November, 1942.

* '''ISO-3166-1 Code:''' RE

The best known animal native to Réunion island (as well as nearby UsefulNotes/{{Mauritius}} and Rodrigues) is the extinct [[DumbDodoBird dodo bird]].

** President of the Regional Council: Didier Robert

An island east of Madagascar and southwest of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean, Réunion ('''French:''' ''La Réunion'') is an overseas region of France, an outermost region of the European Union and the most prosperous island in the Indian Ocean, having the highest GDP per capita in the region. In addition to the capital and largest city of the territory, Saint-Denis, this territory also contains the capital and largest city of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Saint-Pierre.

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/reunion_flag.png

----

->Designed in 1974 by Guy Pignolet who called it Lö Mahavéli, this flag was selected by Vexillological Association of Réunion of 2003 and is the unofficial locally used flag, while the French tricolor is the official flag. It depicts the volcano of Fournaise on a blue field, bedecked by gold sunbeams.

The island is known for the Children of Creuse controversy in the late 20th century, with 1,630 children from Réunion being relocated to rural areas of metropolitan France, particularly to Creuse, ostensibly for education and work opportunities, and many of these children were abused or disadvantaged by the families with whom they were placed. This was revealed in 2002 when one of them, Jean-Jacques Martial, filed suit against the French state for kidnapping and deportation of a minor.