Mauritius has declared a “state of environmental emergency” after a stricken tanker carrying 4,000 tons of fuel began leaking into the Indian Ocean. Miles of the Mauritius coastline have been covered in black sludge, as conservationists warn protected coral reefs and endangered species are in serious peril. This is Reuben Pillay, who operates a virtual tour website of Mauritius.

Reuben Pillay: “The oil trail is right next to an island called Île aux Aigrettes, which is a natural reserve with endemic and endangered species there. There’s the pink pigeon. There’s giant tortoises. There’s a tree there that’s said to be 400 years old. … For the local people, it’s been terrible. These people, they are fishermen, they are boat operators, they are divers. They live from the sea, and they eat from the sea.”