Committed to Protecting ulong island

Ulong Island, Palau is rich in native plants and animals, with a surrounding coral reef and local island community. Invasive rodents destroy biodiversity, spread disease and cause entire land-sea ecosystems to collapse.

The Koror State Government Department of Conservation and Law Enforcement and the nonprofit organization Island Conservation are working together to restore and protect Ulong Island, Palau by removing invasive species.

Everything is connected

Ulong Island, Palau's biodiversity, marine environment and community will all benefit from the removal of invasive species from the island.

Protect our islands: Stop Invasions

Invasive species threaten our Rock Islands.

NO RATS

NO INSECTS

NO SEEDS

STOP

BEFORE DEPARTING FOR

THE ISLANDS

Make sure there are no invasive species in your gear or on your boat

check

IF YOU FIND SOMETHING MAKE SURE YOU REMOVE IT BEFORE LEAVING

• Keep all bags and containers clean
  
• Do not bring aninals with you

go

TO THE ISLAND

If you see an invasive species (rat, cat, ants or plants) where it shouldn't be, contact the Koror State Rangers as soon as possible 488-2150 or

488-4001

On-the-ground Safety

What is proposed?

Koror State Department of Conservation and Law Enforcement and the nonprofit organization Island Conservation are working to protect culturally important resources, recover native biodiversity and restore ecosystem processes vital to the productivity of forests and nearshore reefs by removing invasive species from Ulong Island.

How will invasive rats be removed?

To remove invasive rats from the islands, cereal pellets containing the conservation rodenticide brodifacoum will be applied. A single seater helicopter will be used to ensure bait reaches every rat territory, a necessary condition to achieve eradication success. Bait stations containing blocks or pellets may be placed in and around structures and could be retained at fixed locations on Ulong to ensure rats do not re-establish.

Has this been done before?

There have been more than 1,000 successful

island invasive species eradications worldwide resulting in long-term benefits to native species. Similar projects in Palau have successfully and safely removed invasive species. On Ulong Island, we anticipate increased seabirds, landbirds and native plants, recovery of natural ecosystem functions, protected and thriving reefs, and a more climate-resilient island as a result of removal of invasive species.

How does the conservation rodenticide work?

Brodifacoum is an anticoagulant (blood thinner) that is contained in many rodent control products available for purchase around the world. In Palau, a similar bait containing an anticoagulant called bromadiolone is available for purchase at many hardware stores. Rodent bait containing brodifacoum has been used on many islands around the world to successfully remove rats and other invasive rodents.

What happens to the conservation rodenticide in soil?

Any bait remaining on the ground will begin to mold and eventually break down into inert (non-toxic) compounds. It should be assumed that baits containing brodifacoum are toxic until they are fully broken down, with the rate of decay depending on the amount of rainfall. As baits disintegrate, brodifacoum is absorbed into the soil, where it is slowly degraded over weeks to months by soil bacteria. Soil type, temperature, and the presence of soil micro-organisms capable of degrading brodifacoum all influence the time it will take to completely break down.

What happens to the conservation rodenticide in water?

Brodifacoum does not dissolve well in water, so leaching from soil into water is unlikely. Only the erosion of soil itself results in brodifacoum reaching water. If soil containing brodifacoum reaches a waterway, the brodifacoum generally remains bound to organic material and settles out in sediments. The low solubility of brodifacoum in water means that brodifacoum does not get absorbed by plants.

What happens to the conservation rodenticide in animals?

Brodifacoum is stored in the liver of exposed animals, where it can remain for some time. This is why crabs should not be eaten for a period of at least six months after the operation. Crabs will consume bait but are not affected by brodifacoum because they do not have the same circulatory system as mammals. The toxicant will pass through the crab within days or weeks if there is no further consumption.

What to do if you are concerned about exposure to conservation rodenticide?

If you believe that you or anyone else has been exposed to brodifacoum IT IS CRITICAL that you first directly contact your local doctor or GP. They should be fully prepared to treat anyone exposed to brodifacoum.

Does the operation pose a risk to human health?

Like other vertebrates, or animals with backbones, humans are susceptible to the effects of brodifacoum. However, a human would have to consume a large amount for there to be noticeable impacts. If precautions are followed, the project poses little risk to human health.

Precautions to avoid exposure to people include:

1. Only trained staff wearing protective equipment will touch or handle the bait. Brodifacoum can be absorbed through the skin and is mildly irritating to the skin and eyes.
2. Small children should be supervised while bait is still present on the ground and in bait stations to make sure they do not handle or ingest bait.
3. A moratorium on harvesting fish from around the island and crabs from the island will be in place for six months.
4. Land crabs from Ulong should not be eaten until the moratorium is lifted. Notices may be needed to advise people when regular activities can resume.