Great Barrier Reef islands close after becoming overrun by rats
A group of 10 Great Barrier Reef islands have been closed off to tourism to fight an infestation of rats.
The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has made the Frankland Islands and Northern Barnard Islands a no-go zone for snorkeling tourists for the time being to conduct an aerial baiting programme targeting black rats on the islands.
It could take three weeks to complete, it said.
Head ranger Warrick Armstrong said the rodents pose a threat to nesting seabirds.
"They cause major extinctions and a decline in island biodiversity around the world, and we certainly know on our Australian islands they have a huge impact on nesting seabirds," Armstrong said.
"They are damaging seabird eggs, eating hatchlings. We also have visitors to campgrounds, so there’s a risk of disease that’s carried by these pest rats."
How they go over to the islands is unclear but officials believe the rats most likely came over by stowing away on ships or on floating debris such as logs during floods.
The Park Service said the South Barnard Islands had a previous infestation in 2000, which was eradicated and the number of seabirds then increased dramatically afterwards.
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