#native species

jewels of opar

As of December 2024, The Cook Islands' Palmerston Atoll was declared entirely rat free. This was after significant eradication efforts and monitoring to confirm the rats were gone, both of which involved the local community. Removing the rats has helped to improve food security and safety for residents, as well as increasing the prevalence and numbers of native wildlife.

Arthur Neale, the atoll’s Executive Officer, says Palmerston’s rat-free status means the world to him and everyone else who lives on the atoll. “Rats infested the atoll for over a century. They ate our crops, invaded our homes and harmed local wildlife. We saw the rat problem becoming worse, with the potential to seriously undermine our resilience in the face of climate change impacts. “Benefits from the rat eradication are already evident. Our food security has improved massively. Fruits like guava, mango and star fruit are now abundant and free from rat damage. Our nu mangaro (a coconut tree variety) are thriving. Vegetables, especially cucumbers, have seen an astonishing increase in yield. “We’re very excited to see more native species now rats are no longer eating them. Seedlings of tamanu and puka are increasing and we’re seeing and hearing more birds. Wood pigeons and red-tailed tropic birds have returned to Home Islet. Crabs and lizards appear to be more abundant.”

Here's a cool video from a few years ago covering the work to remove rats and inclusion with the local community (Just a heads up the video does show dead rats a couple of times).

Feral shrimp aside, here's a bunch of photos of some of the natives I collected in Marine, brackish, and fresh conditions. I'll try to list all of them.

Sailfin molly,Naked goby, Marsh killifish (confluentus), southern puffer, frillfin goby's, Florida blenny, dwarf seahorse, gulf pipefish, southern hake, and a pair of plane head filefish.

these birds are the only corvid native to Hawaiʻi but are currently extinct in the wild. distinguishable from other Corvus species for their thick bill and blue eyes, the introduction of invasives such as pigs, cats, dogs, and even mongooses, caused the ʻalalā's numbers to decline severely. the crows were proclaimed extinct in the wild (EW) in the 1970s-80s but a select group was brought into captivity with the ʻalalā project.[¹] currently there are approximately 110 individuals in captivity, with 5 juveniles released in 2024, which are being monitored and given supplemental food.[²] one of their natural predators, the ʻio or hawaiian hawk, is also currently endangered and under restoration efforts. [³][⁴]

there are many EX (Extinct) or CR (Critically Endangered) birds with lots of publicity out there, but this one has good chances to become a CR wild bird if the projects get the support they need! i only learned about this species the other day, and i want them to get more attention and the projects to get more support!

-donate to their habitat restoration here-

galumphin*

What’s your favorite bug? 🦗🐜🐛

Mine are Eastern Lubber Grasshoppers, especially the nymphs. They’re so cute and clumsy! I always know it’s springtime when I start seeing baby lubbers all over the yard.