An article in today's Daily Telegraph by its Brazil correspondet, Robin Yapp, describes how :"Scientists in the Galapagos Islands, which inspired Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, have launched a major project to save native species under threat from thousands of invasive rats.
Ten tons of 'cookies' laced with poison bait, which will entice rats but repulse other wildlife such as sea lions, birds, marine iguanas and sea turtles, were dumped from a helicopter during two fly-overs.
Black rats and Norway rats, which were introduced to the islands via pirates' ships in the 17th century, pose a significant threat to several of the unique Galapagos species.
They eat the eggs and hatchlings of turtles and Galapagos giant tortoises, spread disease and are capable of climbing to feed on the eggs of tree-nesting birds.
In all they have endangered some 50 bird species, including the Galapagos petrel, a seabird that breeds in excavated tunnels on high islands only in the Galapagos.
Galapagos National Park Service launched the "full-scale assault" against the rats with help from other organisations, including the Charles Darwin Foundation.
Felipe Cruz, director of technical assistance at the foundation, said invasive species pose the "greatest threat to nature in the Galapagos"
But scientists who carried out the helicopter drops say the operation went "extremely well" and monitors have already identified dead rats on the rocky terrain."
For the full article, please click here..
Ten tons of 'cookies' laced with poison bait, which will entice rats but repulse other wildlife such as sea lions, birds, marine iguanas and sea turtles, were dumped from a helicopter during two fly-overs.
Black rats and Norway rats, which were introduced to the islands via pirates' ships in the 17th century, pose a significant threat to several of the unique Galapagos species.
They eat the eggs and hatchlings of turtles and Galapagos giant tortoises, spread disease and are capable of climbing to feed on the eggs of tree-nesting birds.
In all they have endangered some 50 bird species, including the Galapagos petrel, a seabird that breeds in excavated tunnels on high islands only in the Galapagos.
Galapagos National Park Service launched the "full-scale assault" against the rats with help from other organisations, including the Charles Darwin Foundation.
Felipe Cruz, director of technical assistance at the foundation, said invasive species pose the "greatest threat to nature in the Galapagos"
But scientists who carried out the helicopter drops say the operation went "extremely well" and monitors have already identified dead rats on the rocky terrain."
For the full article, please click here..