South Georgia rat eradication
- Thread starter Chlidonias
- Start date
This is very heartening. It seems like there is a worldwide campaign to eliminate rats from islands with important biodiversity: the Galapagos, the California Channel Islands, etc.
Are there major de-ratting campaigns going on in any of the New Zealand islands?
Are there major de-ratting campaigns going on in any of the New Zealand islands?
Interesting. I was reading up on South Georgia last night and the fate of its Rein Deer. It seems they have decided to eradicate them as well. They do however complicate the rat poisoning as it would be illegal for them to be poisoned by the poison used to kill the rats. They plan or rounding up and slaughtering the Rein Deer in temporary yards and then ground shoot the ones they miss. Some have already been captured and transported to the Falklands to begin a Rein deer industry there. As a deer fanatic I am dissapointed that they will be eradicated and would like them to be maintained at much lower numbers and managed to minimize environmental damage. They have already been there for over 100 years and at lower numbers I do not think they would have an large environmental impact.
grazing and browsing mammals have a devastating effect on subantarctic islands because the plants there are not adapted in any way at all to such pressure, so you lose plant species, lose soil through erosion, and (e.g. in the case of South Georgia) the grazing pressure actually gives the advantage to introduced plant species which are adapted to grazing and this needless to say further disadvantages the endemic plants.
Reindeer have no place on South Georgia. Wipe them out. Why on earth would anyone argue to keep them there?!
Reindeer have no place on South Georgia. Wipe them out. Why on earth would anyone argue to keep them there?!
Because I love deer and would love to see Reindeer and penguins in the same place. The 2000 on the island now is to many and needs to be reduced. Maintaining 150 to 200 would probably mean you would have trouble to see where they have been.
Then go to a zoo.
I'd rather see the ecosystem returned to as near a natural state as possible where the endemic and native flora and fauna can survive without needless competition.
I like stoats, but I'm not stupid enough to say that means that they should be left in New Zealand in low numbers if there was a means to completely eradicate them.
IanRRobinson
Well-Known Member
The pipit would be a good candidate for a captive breeding programme, if anyone could be bothered to take up the cudgels on behalf of such an inconspicuous species.
UK zoos really ought to take some interest in the fauna of our dependent territories. Red Squirrels may be in trouble here, but they are common globally. The same can't be said of the South Georgia pipit or the Saint Helen plover.
UK zoos really ought to take some interest in the fauna of our dependent territories. Red Squirrels may be in trouble here, but they are common globally. The same can't be said of the South Georgia pipit or the Saint Helen plover.
The Vegan
Well-Known Member
It's sad that they plan to slaughter all of those animals. People brought them there, and now we are too lazy to bring them back? Sure, there are issues with capturing wild Reindeer, but there must be someone out there who would prefer to buy them and place them in a dairy herd... and if not in a farm setting, what about a zoo? There, their wild nature would not be much of a problem. Having watched deer in my own backyard, I can't see how anyone could justify killing such a peaceful, beautiful creature. And that is why people oppose the plan, Childonias.
nanoboy
Well-Known Member
Yes I feel your pain. Here in Australia, we try to exterminate rats, cats, and foxes, but I think that they are all cute animals that were introduced by man. However, I don't think that there is a more effective and pragmatic solution.
and what of the rats?
It may seem sad, but what of the indigenous animals displaced are killed off by the introduced species?
I like reindeer too, but they are relatively common in zoos especially at Christmas time, and they are farmed in Scotland. and who will pay for the transportation and to where?
I only know of South Georgia from what I have sen on TV documentaries, and remember from the Falklands conflict of 1982, but as far as I understand it has no resident population to speak of and little else of interest to the world at large save whale bones so it is ideal to return to as near it's natural state as possible.
We had a similar out cry over the hedgehog cull in Uist- I think it was- an island of Scotland,some one introduced a few pairs and now there are thousands of them eating the eggs and nestlings of ground nesting birds, the hedgehogs have of course no natural predators. The ideal answer would be to catch them and bring them to the mainland where they are apparently dying out due to road kills and badgers.
Sadly some times you need to be cruel to be kind.
I like reindeer too, but they are relatively common in zoos especially at Christmas time, and they are farmed in Scotland. and who will pay for the transportation and to where?
I only know of South Georgia from what I have sen on TV documentaries, and remember from the Falklands conflict of 1982, but as far as I understand it has no resident population to speak of and little else of interest to the world at large save whale bones so it is ideal to return to as near it's natural state as possible.
We had a similar out cry over the hedgehog cull in Uist- I think it was- an island of Scotland,some one introduced a few pairs and now there are thousands of them eating the eggs and nestlings of ground nesting birds, the hedgehogs have of course no natural predators. The ideal answer would be to catch them and bring them to the mainland where they are apparently dying out due to road kills and badgers.
Sadly some times you need to be cruel to be kind.
zooboy28
Well-Known Member
Much of the "de-ratting" work on islands was pioneered by NZ, many of our Subantarctic and offshore islands have been cleared of rats (and other mammals: mice, hedgehogs, mustelids, cats, rabbits, goats, pigs, deer, wallabies, possums) to conserve native species.
Here is the abstract of a recent review paper (2010) detailing the history of New Zealand island restoration:
Bellingham et al. (2010). New Zealand island restoration: seabirds, predators, and the importance of history. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 34, 115-136.
Campbell Island was the largest island ever to be cleared of rats (achieved in 2005), you can read more about the operation here: Campbell Island rat eradication: New Zealand's subantarctic Islands
As far as major current eradications go, as far as I know there are no large islands currently being cleared, although a few small islands are (e.g. Ulva Island is being cleared following a 2010 re-invasion). Chlidonias may know of other islands being cleared. I think the main focus is now on creating "mainland islands", essentially fenced lands which are free from introduced mammals and can be used to re-establish native populations. There are a number of these around the country, read more here: Mainland islands A - Z: New Zealand land conservation
jbnbsn99
Well-Known Member
When working with conservation, you have to look at the big picture. When looking at that picture you cannot go with gut emotions. Just because an animal is cute and cuddly or beautiful does not mean it is important. Here in the US we have a huge problem with feral hogs. They are by all accounts intelligent animals, but they destroy native wildlife. That native wildlife is far more important than those hogs. The result - bacon.
The cold, hard fact is, we can't make decisions based on emotions.
zooboy28
Well-Known Member
I agree that it is not the Reindeers' fault that they are on the island, and I can see how killing them is "unfair" to them. But they do not belong on the island and need to go for the protection of the native ecosystem. As Chlidonias has stated, the degradation to island ecosystems caused by introduced ungulates is severe, and has many consequences. Rounding them up and shipping them elsewhere is clearly not going to be a particularly feasible option, given the high costs involved (although if someone has money, let them do so by all means).
The most efficient option is clearly to kill all the deer on the island in one operation, however unpalatable that may be to you. I think that the sooner they do this, the better.
Are you insane? Seriously, that's a Victorian acclimatisation society attitude. Would you like wolves too, that way the reindeer numbers could be kept in check.
Maintaining a small population is not an option, as it would not allow the island to be restored, and would require costly maintenance of the herd (although perhaps Monty would advocate covering the costs of this by allowing rich hunters to pay to cull herd members - presumably an unacceptable option to The Vegan anyway).
I would pay to go and shoot one.
Unlike The Vegan I do not find the deaths of individual animals a problem. What I don't like the waste of resources through the total eradication of populations at huge cost to taxpayers.
I see animals a resource which needs to be managed and protected through sustainable utilisation. The reason that there is a problem with degradation is that there is 2000 reindeer there due hunting them being prohibited. It will likely cost millions to eradicate them by the methods they will use. There are many more important conservation programs where that money will achieve more. User paid regulated hunting trips could be used to manage the population and reduce it to a small number for no cost to anybody except those who participate.
The Vegan
Well-Known Member
Interesting responses. As for the rats, Chlidonias, I feel no differently about them as I do the deer-however, removing thousands upon thousands of rats is a much larger undertaking than removing 2000 reindeer.
As for the costs-livestock transportation is an everyday occurrence in the world. Cattle are trucked to slaughterhouses; burros are trucked to sanctuaries, etc. Surely there is someone out there who has the resources to humanely remove the animals. Already, in 2001, 59 animals were experimentally moved to a farm.
As for their future home - the Sami herders of Scandinavia, the wild animal ranchers of Texas, the herders of Argentina, Zoos around the world (Reindeer have been disappearing from zoos in my corner of the world.), and well, the wild. An influx of 2000 Reindeer into the vastness of Siberia, once cleared for disease, wouldn't affect the ecosystem.
As for those who believe I'd wish to impair conservation - I never wished to keep Reindeer on the island. I too, care about conservation, but I believe that in many cases, conservation and animal welfare can be coexistent.
And just another thought...the Reindeer were introduced in 1911, and increased to their current number around 1950. Since then, their numbers have fluctuated, but only slightly. So they seem to have reached their carrying capacity. Glaciers currently confine the deer to two parts of the island. Conservationist fear that the retreat of these glaciers will open up more land to the deer, thus expanding the population. However, what if these newly expanding areas were fenced off, and therefore, the land would be opened up to the native avian fauna, offering them new nesting land? This would allow the birds' numbers to grow, and buy some time for the deer...whose numbers are not likely to grow, given historical evidence. Then, a more gentle approach can be taken. The animals can be studied, herded, and slowly removed. Conservationists are always trying to take the fast route. They should change their tactics.
As for the costs-livestock transportation is an everyday occurrence in the world. Cattle are trucked to slaughterhouses; burros are trucked to sanctuaries, etc. Surely there is someone out there who has the resources to humanely remove the animals. Already, in 2001, 59 animals were experimentally moved to a farm.
As for their future home - the Sami herders of Scandinavia, the wild animal ranchers of Texas, the herders of Argentina, Zoos around the world (Reindeer have been disappearing from zoos in my corner of the world.), and well, the wild. An influx of 2000 Reindeer into the vastness of Siberia, once cleared for disease, wouldn't affect the ecosystem.
As for those who believe I'd wish to impair conservation - I never wished to keep Reindeer on the island. I too, care about conservation, but I believe that in many cases, conservation and animal welfare can be coexistent.
And just another thought...the Reindeer were introduced in 1911, and increased to their current number around 1950. Since then, their numbers have fluctuated, but only slightly. So they seem to have reached their carrying capacity. Glaciers currently confine the deer to two parts of the island. Conservationist fear that the retreat of these glaciers will open up more land to the deer, thus expanding the population. However, what if these newly expanding areas were fenced off, and therefore, the land would be opened up to the native avian fauna, offering them new nesting land? This would allow the birds' numbers to grow, and buy some time for the deer...whose numbers are not likely to grow, given historical evidence. Then, a more gentle approach can be taken. The animals can be studied, herded, and slowly removed. Conservationists are always trying to take the fast route. They should change their tactics.
jbnbsn99
Well-Known Member
Completely agree. The deer and rats shouldn't be there in the first place. The cost of catching 2,000 deer, and rounding them up, and shipping them away from a near Antarctic island, and feeding them for the journey, and relocating them to new homes, is well into the millions of dollars.
The concern should be for the unique island, not a few deer descended from domestic stock.
You mentioned the transport and release of burros (wild horses) as a good thing. This has been brought about by protesters stopping the killing of wild/feral horses where they are degrading the land. This is causing big problems and eventually there will be no where to move excess and they will have to be killed. In Australia thousands of wild horses are shot yearly and numbers are to destructive levels in our more southern national parks where protesters are preventing their killing. Eventually a government will have to start killing them.
You listed Texas as a possible home for relocated Reindeer. The climate would prevent this and anywhere in Australia as well. I also do not think anywhere in their native habitat would be suitable as populations are genetically different and mixing them would cause problems.
I also believe conservation and animal welfare can be coexistent, but I doubt I agree with your definition of animal welfare.
