In the 2010s, the government of this island initiated two heavily criticized cullings of tens of thousands of its namesake flying foxes. Flowers endemic to a southwestern peninsula on this island where dozens of maroons jumped to their death include the mandrinette and this island’s national flower, the boucle d’oreille (“BOO-kluh dor-RAY”). An “underwater waterfall” illusion occurs near that spot on this island, Le Morne Brabant (“luh morn brah-bawn”). The oldest botanical garden in the Southern Hemisphere is named for this island’s district of Pamplemousses (“pomp-luh-moose”). Bernardin de Saint Pierre’s time on this island was the basis of his novel Paul et Virginie, in which it is referred to as Île de France (“eel duh frawnce”). This island, which names the largest plurality-Hindu African country, was home to an animal eaten to extinction by Dutch sailors. For 10 points, name this Mascarene island whose largest city is Port Louis (“loo-ee”) and which was once home to the dodo bird. ■END■
ANSWER: Mauritius (“muh-RISH-us”) [or Maurice; or Moris; accept Île de France or Isle de France until read; accept Mauritian flying fox or Mauritius fruit bat]
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= Average correct buzz position