Pacific island seabird populations rose 2 to 10 times after rats were removed

A Pacific island has recorded a significant recovery in several seabird populations following the removal of invasive rats in 2005. A study published in Conservation Biology examined how seven seabird species responded after rodents were eradicated from Surprise Island in New Caledonia. According to the researchers, three species experienced substantial population increases, with their breeding populations eventually reaching between two and ten times their earlier levels. The findings also revealed that recovery did not happen immediately for every species. While some seabirds increased within a few years, others showed improvements only after longer periods of monitoring, highlighting the importance of sustained conservation efforts.Why invasive rats threatened seabirdsSurprise Island is a small, uninhabited island in the Pacific, covering approximately 24 hectares. Before the eradication programme, it was home to invasive black rats and house mice, which posed a threat to nesting seabirds.