Redonda rebounds: 6,000 rats, goats removed; lizards up 8x, vegetation 20x

Redonda, a small Caribbean island, was once a barren volcanic landscape overrun with invasive goats and rats. These invasive species had decimated the island's native plants, lizards, and bird populations. However, in 2016, a major restoration program was launched, led by Antigua and Barbuda's Environmental Awareness Group and several international conservation organizations.

The first step was to remove the invasive animals - over 6,000 black rats were captured and transported away from the island, followed by the removal of the goats. As the invasive species were removed, native plants began to return almost immediately, with vegetation cover and biomass increasing more than 20-fold within a few years.

The island's colour shifted from brown to green, and new plant species emerged, providing food and shelter for wildlife. The rare endemic ground lizards saw an eightfold increase in population, and seabirds such as brown boobies, frigatebirds, and red-billed tropicbirds began nesting on the island again. Redonda's recovery is now considered one of the Caribbean's most remarkable conservation success stories, demonstrating how quickly an island ecosystem can bounce back when the pressure from invasive species is removed.