In 1958, 58 feral pigs were removed from Clipperton Island, helping a seabird colony grow from 650 to more than 137,000

Feral pigs introduced to Clipperton Island devastated seabird populations and land crabs. Ornithologist Kenneth Stager removed fifty-eight pigs, allowing the ecosystem to gradually recover. This removal helped the seabird colony grow from 650 to over 137,000 birds. Later, black rats arrived, impacting the island’s vegetation and bird populations negatively. Clipperton’s story highlights invasive species’ profound ecological effects on islands.

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