Redonda, The Caribbean's Lesser Known Island, Now An Eco Haven

Antigua and Barbuda's lesser-known third island has long been a vital breeding spot for migrant birds from all over the world, as well as a sanctuary to animals found nowhere else on the planet.

Removing Rats in the Island

It appeared ambitious when activists first proposed eradicating thousands of native black rats and a herd of wild goats trying to wipe them out.

Five years later, uninhabited Redonda's once desolate landscape is now a lush green paradise, teeming with fresh new flora, and native lizard populations have soared.

Work on the initiative started in 2016, but its true achievement was only recently discovered when conservationists returned for the first time in 18 months.

Results of the Efforts

It was an "emotional moment," according to Shanna Challenger of the country's Environmental Awareness Group (EAG), which worked with the government and foreign organizations on the project.

She recalls, "It was such a stark contrast from the first time I saw Redonda in 2016 when it was practically crumbling into the sea."

"I could see all these little dots of green as the helicopter got closer, and I realized they were brand new trees and shrubs. The flora has not only healed but is flourishing."

Related Article: Only 3% of the World's Ecosystems Still in Pristine Conditions

Arrival of Invasive Species

Long-horned goats brought by early colonists 300 years earlier had been slowly eating nearly all of Redonda's plants to the point that they were starving to death.

The rodents preyed on snakes and ate rare bird eggs after arriving with a 19th-century guano mining group.

The removal of both animals was not without its difficulties. The fearful goats, who had never been exposed to humans, were herded and flown by helicopter to mainland farmers who wanted to breed them for their drought-resistant genes.

How Did They Kill the Rats

To get rid of the rodents, Ms. Challenger reveals that she painstakingly placed bait in nooks and crannies around the landscape, flavored with everything from peanut butter to chocolate, "to make sure we caught the picky ones."

The lure was laced with a poison that rats loved, but birds and reptiles didn't.

Since 1995, Fauna & Flora International (FFI), which was also interested in the mission, has successfully eradicated non-native mammals from about 25 islands. Still, the rugged volcanic topography of Redonda posed unique challenges.

It had become dangerously precarious due to severe erosion exacerbated by deforestation, with collapsing precipices and repeated rock falls.

Ms. Challenger explains, "We have lowered bait by helicopter and had climbers abseiling the cliffs to ensure no part of the island was missing."

In July 2018, Redonda was formally ruled rat and goat-free. The team returned daily to check on developments until the coronavirus pandemic aggravated transportation issues.

They were welcomed by brown boobies with chicks, red-billed tropicbirds, frigates, and peregrine falcons on their return.

Ms. Challenger grins as she adds, "And don't even get me started on the lizards." "Because of the vegetation, they have more larvae to feed, and their numbers have exploded to the point that they're creeping all over you."

"Seeing these critically endangered species flourish in a suitable ecosystem and seeing the impacts of our work so clearly and visually displayed was humbling."

The number of Redonda's rare tree lizards has risen eight-fold, according to FFI.

The island's previously 17 plant species have increased to 88, including a new ficus tree, cactus, and fern, as well as the return of more than a dozen ground bird species.

And the squad was overjoyed to discover no evidence of the mice.

According to Helena Jeffery-Brown of the government's environment ministry, Redonda is home to 1% of the world's brown boobies.

Successful Operation

"Rehabilitating the habitat of a globally important ecosystem has been incredible," she says. "In the past, you couldn't walk a foot on Redonda without stepping on bird's eggs, and we're steadily restoring that. I'm ecstatic about what we've accomplished."

Redonda, according to FFI's Dr. Jenny Daltry, is "a blueprint" for how other Caribbean islands where invasive species have decimated local biodiversity can be restored.

"Redonda has turned from barren rock to a lush gem of an island right before our eyes and faster than we could have imagined," she says.

"In a time when much of the news about the condition of our world is understandably depressing, the regeneration of this island demonstrates that if we give nature a chance, it can and will recover."

Also Read: Conservation or Preservation: What's the Difference?

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