Rats and Goats Removed From Island; Nature's Surprise Recovery Astonishes

In 1930, an invasion of rats and goats forced the evacuation of all inhabitants from Redonda Island, a part of Antigua and Barbuda, leaving the island to its wild fauna and flora. This dramatic ecological shift stemmed from 19th-century British exploitation of the island's rich aluminum phosphate deposits, essential for gunpowder production. The mining operations, coupled with the constant arrival and departure of ships, led to severe environmental degradation.

What was once a tropical paradise transformed into an arid landscape, earning it the moniker "the rock." According to the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG), an NGO in Antigua and Barbuda, the rats and goats caused deforestation and desertification. They are blamed for the extinction of the island's endemic skink and iguana, and the disappearance of the Antigua burrowing owl. By 2012, the ecosystem was so damaged that even the goats began to die.

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We simply removed the species that shouldn't be there, and within months, we saw the vegetation grow back and the island recover.

In response, ecological groups initiated restoration efforts in 2016. "We simply removed the species that shouldn't be there, and within months, we saw the vegetation grow back and the island recover," said Johnella Bradshaw, coordinator of the Redonda program for EAG, in 2023. The process involved no artificial planting or reintroduction of species; the island's natural recovery after the removal of invasive animals was remarkable.

The transformation was so significant that the government of Antigua and Barbuda declared Redonda a protected area, now known as the Redonda Ecosystem Reserve. This reserve encompasses 30,000 hectares of land and sea, including the island, its surrounding marine meadows, and a 180-square-kilometer coral reef. The ongoing challenge is to maintain the island's pest-free status.

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Until now we have not planted anything, we have not reintroduced any species. We simply removed the rats and goats, and the island transformed before our very eyes.