By Tupuola Terry Tavita

The dreaded rats are back on the Aleipata islands in a big way despite recent optimism that they have been eradicated.

Environment has been conducting a programme on two of the five outliers since early 2009 and the most recent study has found that the rodents are back.

“There are several ways they could’ve gotten back to the island. On debris from the mainland or perhaps they washed back there when the tsunami waves receded,”said Environment chief executive Taulealeausumai Laavasa Malua.

“We will have to look at it.”

Rats, he said, remain the biggest threat to endangered bird species that nest on the islands, especially the rare Friendly Ground Dove.

Although there is also some speculation local residents are hunting the birds.

With assistance from Conservation International and SPREP, Environment is putting together an ambitious programme to breed these threatened birds in captivity.

“These birds are an intrinsic part of our wildlife and have to be protected.”

Share This

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

About the author