(photo by Salina Janzan/ Fauna and Flora International) It was internationally recognised as an Important Bird Area in 2009. Redonda has regionally and globally significant colonies of seabirds, including Brown Boobies, Masked Boobies, Red‐footed Boobies, Magnificent Frigatebirds and Red-billed Tropicbirds. Our conservation efforts really show the benefits of invasive species removal on Caribbean island ecosystems.” Blood, Sweat, Toil and Teamwork The survival of Masked Booby chicks will no longer by threatened by invasive alien species. Changes forecasted to happen in five years occurred within months. The project’s coordinator, Shanna Challenger, of the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG) and Fauna & Flora International (FFI), added: “ This has been the opportunity of a lifetime – witnessing the rebirth of an island. Speaking on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Dr Helena Jeffery Brown said: “ The Government of Antigua and Barbuda considers the return to life of Redonda as a shining beacon in our collective efforts towards ecosystem restoration and biodiversity conservation that will bring us another step closer to attaining some of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets 3.” A landing helicopter, instead of whipping up clouds of dust now beat down on the gently yielding blades of grass. The now lush and vibrant island is a stark contrast to what we know Redonda to be. In less than a year, numbers of the equally rare Redonda Tree Lizard have tripled, hundreds of new trees have sprung up, land birds have increased tenfold, and the island’s globally important seabird colonies – including Magnificent Frigatebirds and several booby species – are having their best breeding year on record. Numbers of the Redonda Ground Dragon, a rare black lizard found nowhere else on the planet, have doubled in number – just one of the many fantastic beasts that have been pulled back from the brink of extinction by removing the predatory black rats and plant-devouring goats. (photo by Jeremy Holden/ Fauna and Flora International).įreed from these invasive animals, this uninhabited outpost’s unique native plants and animals are making a rapid recovery. The Critically Endangered and endemic Redonda Ground Dragon rebounded after removal of Redonda’s rats. The goat operation, which took more than six months, brought the healthiest animals back to Antigua alive. All were thin and stunted due to the lack of food on Redonda, but have since gained weight and begun breeding on Antigua. The eradication team lived on the island for more than two months to monitor bait uptake and remove rat carcasses. The bait was distributed at intervals of not less than 40 metres, even down the high cliffs, to be certain of reaching every rat. Klerat was readily eaten by Redonda’s rats but ignored by the native reptiles, mammals and birds. The entire population of black rats ( Rattus rattus) was eradicated using Klerat, a bitter, waxy rat bait that has been used successfully to remove rats from dozens of Caribbean islands since the early 1990s. The rat eradication and goat removal work was completed by June 2017, and Redonda was officially declared rat free the following year in July 2018. More importantly, the unique plants and animals native to this isolated, uninhabited outpost of Antigua and Barbuda are making a rapid recovery after being freed from an alien invasion. Since the ambitious restoration programme was rolled out, in short time, the rock of Redonda has been transfigured from an inhospitable landscape to a greener haven. Within 12 months of starving goats and thousands of ravenous rats being removed from Redonda, this remote Caribbean island has witnessed a miraculous transformation. If conservationists had waved a magic wand, the results could hardly have been more spectacular. The bare, prominent rock rising defiantly from the sea, with its steep, brutal cliffs and lunar-looking landscape – this was Redonda – Antigua & Barbuda’s obscure sister. (photo by Jeremy Holden/ Fauna and Flora International)Ī campaign to remove invasive rats and goats from Redonda has yielded spectacular results for the island’s unique and special wildlife. In 1967, Redonda became a dependency of Antigua and Barbuda. The mining community was disbanded during World War I, after which the island was uninhabited. It is believed that rats were introduced to the island during this period. Redonda was later transferred to the British Crown and around 7,000 tonnes of seabird guano was harvested annually from 1865 to 1914. Christopher Columbus named the island in 1493 and claimed it for Spain. Redonda, a massive barren rock before removal invasive rats and goats.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |