South Georgia is one of the world's last great wilderness areas and amongst the wildlife on the island are 90% of the world's Antarctic fur seals and half the world's elephant seals. Four species of penguins nest on the island, including King Penguins with around 400,000 breeding pairs.
Although the wildlife remains impressive, it is but a shadow of what Captain Cook encountered when he discovered and named South Georgia in 1775. Rats and mice, arriving in the ships of sealers and whalers, have spread over much of the island and destroy the eggs and chicks of most of the native birds.
The South Georgia Heritage Trust's 'Team Rat', led by professor Tony Martin is now looking to raise £2 million to complete the rodent eradication project. Team Rat intends to now return in 2015 to bait the remaining 300 sq km of the island. Once all the rats are removed from South Georgia, scientists estimate a 100 million increase in the island's bird population. Scientists had realized that the only feasible way to eradicate all rodents is to spread toxic bait by helicopters.
The bait pellets being used on South Georgia are extremely attractive to rodents—they eat them in preference to their natural food. The active ingredient in the rodent bait pellets is called brodifacoum. It is an anti-coagulant, which causes the rodent to die of internal bleeding and organ failure.
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Scientists play Pied Piper to rid Antarctica of rats destroying birds
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Scientists play Pied Piper to rid Antarctica of rats destroying birds
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