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| How man bringing rats spelled disaster for wildlife on islands the world over | How man bringing rats spelled disaster for wildlife on islands the world over |
| (3 months later) | |
| The marvellous adaptive qualities of the rat have caused catastrophic declines in native wildlife populations on islands across the globe. Now authorities are trying to reverse the damage with huge eradication attempts. | The marvellous adaptive qualities of the rat have caused catastrophic declines in native wildlife populations on islands across the globe. Now authorities are trying to reverse the damage with huge eradication attempts. |
| Agile, fast-breeding and predatory, black and brown rats are among the planet's most devastating invasive species. Tony Martin, project director of the world's largest eradication of rats on South Georgia, said he had "huge respect" for rats and their ability to colonise new habitats and food sources and that the choice to eliminate them was one he took with great sympathy and consideration: | Agile, fast-breeding and predatory, black and brown rats are among the planet's most devastating invasive species. Tony Martin, project director of the world's largest eradication of rats on South Georgia, said he had "huge respect" for rats and their ability to colonise new habitats and food sources and that the choice to eliminate them was one he took with great sympathy and consideration: |
| "Man has already come and changed things," he said. "We are putting things back to before man. We recognise that we uniquely have the power to change things and what we are changing is man's impact. We are not doing anything new, we are returning things back to the way they were in 1775. So I hope that's not hubris. I hope that's taking the opportunity to do something because we can." | "Man has already come and changed things," he said. "We are putting things back to before man. We recognise that we uniquely have the power to change things and what we are changing is man's impact. We are not doing anything new, we are returning things back to the way they were in 1775. So I hope that's not hubris. I hope that's taking the opportunity to do something because we can." |
| According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), islands are vital crucibles for biodiversity. Yet the geographical isolation that allows unique island species to evolve also makes them fragile and poorly equipped to compete with invaders. Introduced species, such as rats, are the major cause of extinction for island species. Since the 1800s almost 700 successful invasive species eradications have occurred on islands across the world. | According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), islands are vital crucibles for biodiversity. Yet the geographical isolation that allows unique island species to evolve also makes them fragile and poorly equipped to compete with invaders. Introduced species, such as rats, are the major cause of extinction for island species. Since the 1800s almost 700 successful invasive species eradications have occurred on islands across the world. |
| Lord Howe Island, Australia | Lord Howe Island, Australia |
| More than 30 species have been driven to local extinction since black rats arrived on Lord Howe Island when the SS Makembo ran aground in 1918. These included the Lord Howe Island land lobster, a stick insect as long as an outstretched human hand. Another 13 species are threatened on the World Heritage-listed subtropical island in the Tasman sea. Government funding has been secured for a bait drop aimed at removing an estimated 130,000 rodents. | More than 30 species have been driven to local extinction since black rats arrived on Lord Howe Island when the SS Makembo ran aground in 1918. These included the Lord Howe Island land lobster, a stick insect as long as an outstretched human hand. Another 13 species are threatened on the World Heritage-listed subtropical island in the Tasman sea. Government funding has been secured for a bait drop aimed at removing an estimated 130,000 rodents. |
| Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), Canada | Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), Canada |
| Known as the "Galapagos of the north", the Haida Gwaii archipelago houses more subspecies of seabird than anywhere else in Canada. Three centuries of rat infestation have caused significant declines in populations of seabirds, songbirds and small mammals. The world's largest known breeding population of ancient murrelets declined from an estimated 200,000 nesting pairs to fewer than 20,000 pairs. Of the 150 islands in the group, at least 18 are infested with rats. Two have already been successfully cleared, with more clearances planned. | Known as the "Galapagos of the north", the Haida Gwaii archipelago houses more subspecies of seabird than anywhere else in Canada. Three centuries of rat infestation have caused significant declines in populations of seabirds, songbirds and small mammals. The world's largest known breeding population of ancient murrelets declined from an estimated 200,000 nesting pairs to fewer than 20,000 pairs. Of the 150 islands in the group, at least 18 are infested with rats. Two have already been successfully cleared, with more clearances planned. |
| Galápagos Islands, Ecuador | Galápagos Islands, Ecuador |
| A byword for biodiversity, the Galápagos also epitomise the fragility of island systems to invasive predators such as rats. An estimated 180 million rats exist on Pinzón Island, 10 every square metre, where they have been blamed for killing every single tortoise hatchling for the past century. The biggest rat eradication in South American history began in November 2012. Results are pending. | A byword for biodiversity, the Galápagos also epitomise the fragility of island systems to invasive predators such as rats. An estimated 180 million rats exist on Pinzón Island, 10 every square metre, where they have been blamed for killing every single tortoise hatchling for the past century. The biggest rat eradication in South American history began in November 2012. Results are pending. |
| Campbell Island, New Zealand | Campbell Island, New Zealand |
| The Campbell Island eradication began in 2001 and, at the time, it was the world's largest rat eradication project. The New Zealand government undertook the massive operation to remove 200,000 brown rats from the 44 sq mile (113 sq km) Southern Ocean island. The project is now considered to have been entirely successful. This was reinforced when the IUCN upgraded the Campbell Islands teal's conservation status from critically endangered to endangered in 2011. Techniques developed during the Campbell Island eradication paved the way for the recent South Georgia project. | The Campbell Island eradication began in 2001 and, at the time, it was the world's largest rat eradication project. The New Zealand government undertook the massive operation to remove 200,000 brown rats from the 44 sq mile (113 sq km) Southern Ocean island. The project is now considered to have been entirely successful. This was reinforced when the IUCN upgraded the Campbell Islands teal's conservation status from critically endangered to endangered in 2011. Techniques developed during the Campbell Island eradication paved the way for the recent South Georgia project. |
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