[2][3] It was on the brink of extinction in 1991 when only 10 individuals remained, but its numbers have increased due to the efforts of the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust since 1977.

Four of these locations belong to Black River Gorges National Park and the fifth to Isle aux Aigrettes.

One reason for the difference in life span is that producing eggs is extremely metabolically taxing, and since female birds are nearly constantly producing eggs (even when they are not fertilized, just like domestic chickens do) this can end up totaling to a large metabolic tax on the female's survival.

[citation needed] Life history timeline: The pink pigeon is herbivorous, feeding on both exotic and native plants - consuming buds, flowers, leaves, shoots, fruits and seeds.

These birds exhibit ground-feeding behaviors, moving and turning over leaf litter in order to find food and grit (for use as gizzard stones).

The MWF and other organizations are providing supplemental feeding stations that offer diet items like whole wheat.

The captive breeding and reintroduction program initiated and supported by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust and largely carried out by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation has resulted in a population of about 400 in the wild in 2018, as well as a healthy captive population as backup.

[11] Habitat degradation, introduced predators, and wildlife disease are the major ongoing threats to the pink pigeon's survival.

[12] Common predators include the crab-eating macaque (Macaca fascicularis), the small Asian mongoose (Urva auropunctata), rats, and feral cats.

[13] An ongoing concern faced by the pink pigeon, as by many endangered species that exist in small remnant populations, is inbreeding depression.

[1] The book Golden Bats and Pink Pigeons by Gerald Durrell describes the conservation efforts.