In a significant milestone for biodiversity and community resilience in Tonga, invasive rat and feral pig populations have been removed from the uninhabited islets of Kelefesia and Tonumea in the Ha’apai Group.
This achievement, led by Tonga’s Department of Environment and supported by the Pacific Regional Invasive Species Management Support Service (PRISMSS) Predator Free Pacific Programme Technical Lead, Island Conservation, brings renewed hope for Tonga’s vulnerable ecosystems and serves as a model for similar conservation efforts across the Pacific.
The eradication project, carried out over five weeks from July to November 2024, focused on restoring the islets’ delicate ecosystems, which serve as critical habitats for native bird species and endangered turtles. The project was conducted in two key stages: first, a team of 8 dedicated local “invasive battlers” camped on the islets for three weeks to remove all feral pigs, ensuring they would not interfere with rat eradication efforts or consume rat poison intended for the rats.
Following pig removal, a team of 10 which included four from Tonga's Department of Environment under the Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change and Communications (MEIDECC), four local participants from Nomuka, and two team members from Island Conservation camped on the islands to focus on the rodents.
