Down one place on last year. A mouse approaches an albatross chick on Gough Island in the South Atlantic. Laura Beasley. 2693778) are paid under Gift Aid to the RSPB (registered Rate and review this item. Critics call for bird-protection charity to use more humane methods to save Tristan albatross from extinction. SC037654). The southerly breeze brings success: Counting incubating Tristan albatross on Gough Island.

She said immunocontraceptives present a more humane alternative. © All distributable profits from the RSPB's wholly owned subsidiary RSPB Sales Limited (registered office: The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2DL, registered in England under company registration no. Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. Critics say the project also risks harming the environment of Gough Island, an uninhabited Unesco World Heritage site in the South Atlantic. You can find our Community Guidelines in full here. Rebecca Ram, scientific consultant for Animal Aid said: “With the ability of just one pair of rodents to result in an estimated 15,000 descendants in a year, as well as the problems of becoming increasingly intolerant to toxins, it is becoming widely recognised that fertility control is a far better long-term solution. The Gough Restoration Programme aims to eradicate the invasive mice on Gough Island that are predating albatross and other wild bird chicks. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. It appears that your browser has JavaScript disabled. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. The activists also fear the poison could affect the wider environment on the island, which is part of the UK Overseas Territory of Tristan da Cunha, and other wildlife. Please enable cookies and reload this page. This Website requires your browser to be JavaScript enabled. Jade Emery, of the group, said: “We are shocked that this well respected organisation would resort to such unthinkably cruel tactics. The RSPB is under fire for its plans to carry out a mass poisoning of mice on a remote island, leaving the animals “dying slowly in agony” over days. Gough island is a remote and beautiful island in the UK Overseas Territory of Tristan da Cunha, out in the middle of the South Atlantic Ocean. The culling, which is backed by the UK government, involves keeping Gough bunting and Gough moorhen in cages for several weeks to keep them away from the poison. Martin Harper, of the RSPB, said: “Any form of lethal control is an emotive subject but, as a nature conservation charity we choose to intervene when a species is threatened with extinction.

Six months after having made the devastating decision to postpone the 2020 restoration of Gough Island, our team is back in strength and ... Blog by Michelle Risi, Gough Field Assistant Being on one of the most remote islands in the world during a global pandemic is seemingly o... Blog by Michelle Jones, Gough Field Assistant Despite surface nesting seabirds, like albatrosses and giant petrels often stealing the lim... Blog by Alexis Osborne, Gough Island Field Assistant House mice (Mus musculus) were introduced to Gough Island in the 19th century.

RSPB > Gifts, clothing & home > Home & kitchen > Kitchen textiles, Marks a crucial time for Gough Island and some of its incredible sea birds including the Tristan albatrosses and Atlantic petrels, Delivery of in stock items in approx. Sonic deterrents and eco-friendly non-toxic chemical deterrents should also be considered, she added. The website requires your browser to enable cookies in order to login. “Other methods which warrant investigation include rodent-proof constructions for the birds to nest in elevated or cliffside habitats.”, Many of the public would expect to see humane options investigated, especially as the RSPB ask for donations. The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium. SC037654, Gough Island Restoration 2021 gets underway, Life on a tiny rock in the South Atlantic during a global pandemic, Burrowing Petrels on Gough Island, and the ‘Downward Bird’ pose, Mice Predation on Prions continues on Gough Island, A leucistic sub-Antarctic fur seal: a first for Gough Island and a first for the species, Tristan Albatross breeding success is too low, The southerly breeze brings success: Counting incubating Tristan albatross on Gough Island. Yesterday evening, the skies darkened… Not just the impending dusk, but the arrival of Great Shearwaters in their tens of thousands. Mice have flourished on Gough Island since they were inadvertently introduced by sailors in the 19th century, and have evolved to become half as large again as average house mice. Want an ad-free experience?Subscribe to Independent Premium.

Atlantic Yellow-nosed albatross on Gough Island with tracking device on its back. Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines. The RSPB is on a mission to restore Gough as a seabird paradise. Inspired by the majestic Tristan albatross, currently under threat in the place they call home: Gough Island. Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. It appears that your browser has cookies disabled. Support free-thinking journalism and attend Independent events, The situation is so severe that just one in five albatross chicks survived to fledge during last year’s breeding season, Anger at RSPB over ‘agonising’ mass poisoning of mice, UK ‘must eradicate’ swarms of invading rodents from island territories, Eradicating rats from islands protects coral reefs, scientists find, You may not agree with our views, or other users’, but please respond to them respectfully, Swearing, personal abuse, racism, sexism, homophobia and other discriminatory or inciteful language is not acceptable, Do not impersonate other users or reveal private information about third parties, We reserve the right to delete inappropriate posts and ban offending users without notification. We'd like your opinion!

This is another UK Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic and home to three albatross species, including the critically endangered Tristan albatross which is found nowhere else in the world! Following our last blog from the Gough Island team which showed how bycatch affects even the most remote places on earth, we are celebrat... Blog by Alexis Osborne The primary threat to the seabirds of Gough Island are invasive non-native mice, but although remote, the seabirds... After saying goodbye to the 2017-18 Gough 63 team of Fabrice, Kate and Jaimie, we say hello to the 2018-19 Gough 64 team! 1. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Uninhabited by humans but home to more than eight million birds, it's an important nesting ground for many globally threatened seabird species, including the Tristan albatross and Atlantic petrel. Albatross on Gough Island. Gough Island is a UK Overseas Territory in the South Atlantic. See our delivery and returns page for full details.

Chris, Michelle... Blog by Jaimie Cleeland After a year full of adventure on Gough Island the time has come to say goodbye.

Next year the charity plans a mass cull, using helicopters to spread a poison called brodifacoum. They will be released back once the bait operation is complete.”. 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. “We of course agree it is extremely important to protect endangered birds. 2-4 days, £5.95 - Next working day delivery UK (only for in-stock items ordered before 3pm Mon-Fri). Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates. The RSPB is a member of BirdLife International. Gough Island, which has been described as one of the most important seabird nesting sites in the world, is home to more than 8 million birds from at least 24 species.