Gough Island Mouse Eradication
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Gough island mouse eradication. Gough was the first island to record such astonishing mouse behaviour and even now it is highly unusual. It is a dependency of tristan da cunha and part of the british overseas territory of saint helena ascension and tristan da cunha it is about 400 km 250 mi south east of the tristan da cunha archipelago which includes nightingale. The mouse eradication on gough island next year will be an exciting intervention to safeguard the bird life of this unique and beautiful island. Endemic plants is substantial mice eat about 3 tonnes of gough island biota per day but the impact both direct and indirect and benefits of mouse eradication for native plants and invertebrates have not been measured.
Was the 2008 rodent eradication on alaska s rat island. Gough island restoration programme update 5 sep 2019 first evidence of mouse attacks on gough adult albatrosses 9 jan 2019 two million seabirds killed annually by mice on gough island 23 oct 2018 web pages launched for the gough island restoration programme 23 sep 2018 gough island mice eradication project to take place in 2020 23 aug. With the feasibility assessed the eradication is going ahead at the earliest possible date that ensures planning contracting funding and all necessary preparations are in place to give us the highest change of success. Invasive mice are predating on seabird chicks driving species to extinction on gough island.
But many of the birds which nest here are now under threat including the critically endangered and iconic tristan albatross one of only two critically endangered british birds. The gough island restoration programme aims to prevent the loss of over 2 000 000 seabird eggs chicks and adults every year by removing non native invasive mice and restore gough as an idyllc breeding ground and unesco world heritage site. Gough island restoration programme. In 2019 we will eradicate mice and restore gough island.
Is eradication possible given the particular circumstances on gough island. Gough island ɡ ɒ f also known historically as gonçalo álvares after the portuguese explorer is a rugged volcanic island in the south atlantic ocean. In 2001 two ornithologists working on gough island a remote seabird colony in the south atlantic noticed a disturbing pattern. The chicks are killed by an invasive non native species of house mouse that was introduced to gough by humans.
Eradication of mice from gough island is possible. Preventing the extinction of seabirds and securing the future of a world heritage site through major conseration action. The rspb and tristan da cunha government have developed an ambitious programme of conservation action.