Cats in Galapagos
From Galapedia
| Cats in Galapagos | |
 Feral cat with an Iguana. | |
| Diet: | native wildlife, including birds, lava lizards, endemic snakes, and young iguanas. |
|---|---|
The impact of cats on Galapagos
Feral and domestic cats prey upon native wildlife and impact on bird and reptile survival. The Charles Darwin Foundation's (CDF) long term plans for the restoration of Galapagos include cat control and removal programs.
Contents |
Arrival in Galapagos
Cats (Felis catus) were introduced from ships docking in the islands and as domestic pets brought by settlers. Historically feral and domestic cats have been present in both populated and natural areas of all five inhabited islands and in uninhabited areas on northern Isabela. Although cats continue to pose substantial threats to biodiversity on Santa Cruz, Isabela, San Cristobal and Floreana they have been successfully eradicated from Baltra.
Impact on Galapagos
Domestic and feral cats are aggressive predators which target native wildlife, including birds, lava lizards, endemic snakes, and young iguanas. The perception of cats as pets rather than as ruthless killers makes it difficult to gain acceptance for the control of cats in Galapagos.
Feral cats living in national park areas are not the only cause for concern. Abandoned cats and even domestic pets prey on Darwin's finches and native species that inhabit populated areas within once-thriving native ecosystems.
On Baltra Island, feral cats had a dramatic effect on colonies of iguanas, including those repatriated there from breeding programs at the Charles Darwin Research Station (CDRS). The future of these endemic reptiles depended upon the eradication of feral cats on Baltra Island.
CDRS research activities
The CDF and the Galapagos National Park Service (GNPS) are working within communities to gain acceptance for the sterilization or removal of all domestic and feral cats. Long term plans for the restoration of Galapagos require the eventual removal of all cats from the islands.
The GNPS and CDRS carried out a three-year program to eradicate feral cats from Baltra Island. Monitoring throughout 2004 confirmed the eradication of feral cats from Baltra. Reduction of the cat population resulted in immediate improvements in survival rates and reproductive success of repatriated land iguanas.
For the future
CDF is building upon this success to further develop a research-based, species-specific eradication strategy to remove all introduced cats from Galapagos. The next stages in this process are:
- To gain acceptance and compliance with the sterilization or removal of domestic cats
- To continue to support the legal ban on the importation of cats and other non-native species.
- To develop the capacity to eradicate feral cats from natural areas on all populated islands.
The GNPS is currently carrying out cat control programs at two sites, Cerro Dragon and Cerro Montura, on Santa Cruz Island. Other islands are being monitored to determine the areas where feral and domestic cats are threatening native species.
As funds become available, further cat control and eradication work will take place. The eventual eradication of predatory cats from Galapagos will improve the survival of many vulnerable native and endemic species, restoring and maintaining the natural diversity that characterizes these islands.
