Savurua Botanical Gardens is a mecca for endemic Fijian forest birds: intact and diverse lowland tropical forest bordering the Viti Levu Southern Highlands Important Bird Area and an abundance of fresh water have made Savurua home for almost all of Viti Levu’s bird species.
Proximity and ready access from Suva are turning Savurua into a magnet for international birdwatchers. An early morning stroll will enable interested visitors to encounter diverse troupes of foraging forest birds, including the globally threatened Black-faced Shrikebill along with the spectacular endemic Blue-crested Broadbill and many others such as Scarlet Robin, Golden Whistler, Slaty Monarch, Streaked Fantail and Fiji Bush Warbler. Savurua’s nearby waterfalls provide ideal nesting sites for one of Fiji’s rarest birds, the Long-legged Warbler.
Walks in the gardens will be invariably interrupted by the raucous and penetrating squawks and screeches of the spectacular Masked Shining Parrot: these large parrots are resident in the gardens, and their favourite foods include sago palm fruits.
Plantings of native honey-flora, including Geissois, Erythrina, Maniltoa and Metrosideros provide food resources for the brightly coloured Kula or Collared Lory as well as the endemic Giant Forest Honeyeater, Wattled Honeyeater, Orange-breasted Myzomela and Fiji White-eye. It is also hoped that one day the possibly extinct Kulawai or Red-throated Lorikeet might miraculously lift off Fiji’s five dollar note and reappear in the newly established Savurua gardens of the Kulawai’s preferred food trees.
The gardens are home to five species of pigeons, including the globally endangered Friendly Ground Dove, the Golden Dove, Many-coloured Fruit Dove, Barking Pigeon and White-throated Pigeon. Pigeon and dove populations are expected to increase through protection and through plantings of their preferred native food trees including Acacia, Bischofia, Cananga, Eleaocarpus, Flueggea, Ficus, Pleiogynium and Veitchia. The Fiji Parrot Finch is abundant in both forest and open habitats while its rare endemic cousin the Pink-billed Parrot Finch occurs in nearby forest. A brilliant flash of turquoise, a rising crescendo or cacophony of sounds or a nesting tunnel in a termite mound may reveal the presence of a favourite garden resident, the White-collared Kingfisher.
Thankfully all of Fiji’s land animals (amphibians, reptiles and mammals) are benign and the Savurua botanical gardens are home to the beautifully patterned Pacific Boa, numerous skinks and geckoes, Fijian Tree and Ground Frogs, two species of Pacific fruit bat and several insectivorous bats. Native freshwater fish abound in Savurua’s streams, pools and rapids.
The majestic Fijian sago palm (Metroxylon vitiense) or soga, pronounced songa in Fijian, is an endangered palm unique to Fiji.
Most of Fiji’s rich flora and its 476 plant genera have been derived from and are shared with the island of New Guinea and south-east Asia to the west.
Savurua Botanical Gardens is 100% committed to conserving Fijian plant species especially endangered endemic trees.
Are you passionate about creating a greener, lusher Fiji? Donate to our conservation initiatives & help protect Fiji’s indigenous flora, fauna & rainforests. It’s a green ‘thumbs up’ for Fiji!
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