How many people live on gough island

Its importance for threatened species and sites of outstanding universal value earned Gough World Heritage Site status in and Important Bird Area status in Mice were accidentally introduced to the island, most probably by sailors during the 19th Century. Since arriving on Gough they have learnt to exploit all available food sources on the island, including seabirds. Video cameras reveal how the mice eat the flesh of seabird chicks.

Tristan albatross chicks weigh up to 10kg, but open wounds inflicted over successive nights frequently lead to their deaths. Mice are now starting to attack adult seabirds too. The loss of adult birds adds even greater urgency to this extinction prevention project.

To restore the fortunes of Gough Island's seabirds and ensure the island remains one of the world's most important seabird nesting sites, worthy of its World Heritage Site status. As part of the lease agreement a SANAP vessel, as well as transporting teams and equipment to and from Gough Island from Cape Town, also calls at Tristan da Cunha on the outward and inward journeys, providing berths for about 30 passengers and freight transit. An annual inspection of the base, to ensure strict environmental conditions are adhered to, is carried out by the Tristan Government.

Right: SA Agulhas at anchor in Transvaal Bay with its helicopter bringing cargo ashore to the base in Photo: John Cooper. The island is scenically beautiful with spectacular sea cliffs round much of the coastline. Two endemic land birds are found: the Gough moorhen and the Gough finch. Its undisturbed nature makes it particularly valuable for biological research, which, with weather monitoring, is the only other activity permitted on the island.

Preparations for the eradication of mice from Gough Island: results of bait acceptance trials above ground and around cave systems. In: Veitch C. Observations of mice predation on dark-mantled sooty albatross and Atlantic yellow-nosed albatross chicks at Gough Island. Antarctic Science. Davies, D. Avian Conservation and Ecology 10 1 : 5.

Dawson, J. Prioritizing islands for the eradication of invasive vertebrates in the United Kingdom overseas territories. Conservation Biology , 29, — Dilley, B. Effects of mouse predation on burrowing petrel chicks at Gough Island. Antarctic Science 27 6 : Gough Island Restoration Programme.