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#1
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06-27-2011, 06:32 PM
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 My Rank: MAJOR Poster Rank:12 Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 93,062
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Rat Eradication on Henderson Island
The RSPB is embarking on a scheme to save the seabirds on Henderson Island, a UK overseas territory. The birds are under severe threat because of invasive rats that prey on their chicks. The Henderson's petrel, classified as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, is of particular concern.  The remote island, which is in the South Pacific, is the only known breeding site for the ground-nesting Henderson's petrel. Pacific rats that have been introduced there now eat an estimated 25,000 petrel chicks every year.  A team has set out on the 27,000km journey to the island. Once there, eradication experts will use helicopters to drop 80 tonnes of poisoned bait. "It will take two to three days for the entire island to be treated, with the whole operation being repeated one week later, so as to ensure no rats survive," said the RSPB.  The island is uninhabited by humans and is home to more than 55 species that are found nowhere else on earth, including four unique land-birds: the Henderson lorikeet (pictured), Henderson fruit-dove, Henderson crake and Henderson reed-warbler.  The four species of petrel that live on Henderson, which include the Murphy's petrels pictured, have been decimated by the rats. The rodents were brought in by Polynesian settlers who used to live there.  "Our research has shown that it's possible to get rid of these rats and reverse the seabird decline on Henderson," said RSPB conservation scientist Richard Cuthbert. "Without a full-scale eradication, the wildlife on this island faces a very bleak future."  |
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#6
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06-28-2011, 10:06 AM
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 ✝Mudderator from Hell✝ Poster Rank:10 e-mail Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 96,997
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Re: Rat Eradication on Henderson Island
Weird that so many endangered species of birds choose that spot to breed. are there no other ground animals that can eat the poisoned bait then ? |
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#8
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06-28-2011, 10:25 AM
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 My Rank: MAJOR Poster Rank:191 Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 8,079 8,079Posts 3,638Thanked 42Quoted 0Mentioned 0Contrib. |
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Re: Rat Eradication on Henderson Island
~face palm~ I re-read the article twice yesterday looking for that. I guess this tired old mind sees what it wants, when it wants.  |
