‘Real life Robinson’ has to leave the island to live for more than 30 years

After many threats of deportation, Mauro Morandi (Italy) must officially end his life alone on the island of Budelli.
Mr. Morandi (81 years old) said The Guardian know he will leave Budelli island in late April.

“I gave up the war. After 32 years here, I felt very sad having to leave. The authorities said they needed to work on my house and this time it seemed real,” he said. Morandi said he was moving to a small house in La Maddalena, the largest island in the archipelago, near his current residence. “I would live away from town, only go there when I need to buy things and still spend most of my time alone. My life won’t change too much, I will still see the sea.” Mauro Morandi had to leave the island he had been with for more than 30 years. Photo: Mauro Morandi. Living alone on the island of Budelli since 1989, Mauro Morandi has been called “Robinson Crusoe of Italy”. He comes from the city of Modilia in the Emilia-Romagna region (Italy). Since taking on the job of guarding the island, for many years, Morandi has always kept and protected the island from destruction. In addition to keeping the island’s beaches pristine, in the summer he guides and introduces visitors to this place about the ecosystem. Since the 1990s, tourists are prohibited from walking on the pink beach and swimming in the ocean, but the island can be visited during the day by boat and allowed to walk along the path behind the beach. Morandi’s peaceful life has been threatened since the private company that owned the island went bankrupt. In 2013, a plan to sell the island to Malcolm Harte – a New Zealand businessman pledging to keep Morandi as an island watchman – was thwarted. Even though he lives alone, he stays up to date with news about the outside world. Photo: National Geographic. In 2016, the Sardinian court ruled that the island was owned by the Italian government. Budelli is currently managed by the management of La Maddalena National Park, which wants to expel Morandi and turn the place into an environmental education center. In recent years, a number of petitions in favor of keeping Morandi on the island have received thousands of signatures in agreement. When he learned that he was finally moving, many fans expressed frustration and anger on his Facebook page. “Do not know what to say anymore, this paradise will begin to be destroyed,” account Carmelia Mangano write. Mirella Della Vecchia discontent: “I cannot imagine Budelli without Morandi’s protection, fight this injustice.”