New Zealand removes rats from island, sparking dramatic saddleback recovery

Representative imageIn 1996, New Zealand completed a major conservation effort with the eradication of two species of invasive rats from Kapiti Island, a 2,000-hectare nature reserve off the coast of Wellington. Official data released by the Department of Conservation (DOC) shows the removal of the introduced rodents has completely transformed the island's natural environment. The native wildlife responded almost immediately. Over the following three years, the native saddleback population more than doubled, driving its annual growth rate up from a meager 1.3% to an extraordinary 33.2%. Eliminating non-native predators turned out to be the single most effective action for protecting vulnerable island species. Today, Kapiti Island remains one of the world's greatest ecological comeback stor