News: Rodent eradication in Palau shows early signs of success

[Dave Houston]

After years of planning a rodent eradication operation on Kayangel Atoll, Palau, has just been completed and is already showing early signs of success. “So far, there have been no reports of rats on any of Kayangel’s four islands”, said Anu Gupta – Conservation and Protected Areas Program Director for Palau Conservation Society (PCS / BirdLife Partner). “Within just weeks of the operation there have already been reports that agricultural harvests have improved, with bananas and coconuts harvested without any rat damage. Although an official declaration of success will not come for at least a year, we are cautiously optimistic”.

http://www.birdlife.org/community/2011/09/rodent-eradication-in-palau-shows-early-signs-of-success/