Flora en fauna op Hawaii's State Seabird Sanctuary, Lehua Island (VS), bedreigd door Polynesische ratten

Rats Threaten Endangered Species

Hawaii's State Seabird Sanctuary Houses Species

29-12-2009 KITV, USA


HONOLULU -- Federal officials said rats are attacking, damaging and killing native and endangered plants and animals on Hawaii's State Seabird Sanctuary.

The uninhabited 290-acre Lehua island is located less than a mile north of Niihau and 20 miles west of Kauai.

Officials said lack of funding and availability of specialized personnel have delayed efforts to get rid of the Polynesian rats.

A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spokesman estimates the job will cost between $200,000 and $700,000.

State and federal officials said they are seeking the necessary funding and personnel to visit the island to reassess the rat population there. They said they hope that could be done within the next two months.

(Bron: http://www.kitv.com)
(Bron foto: http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/nelsons/banana/)