Prior to a 1990 possum eradication programme using 1080, Rangitoto Island's pohutukawa forest was dead and dying. Rangitoto is now a blaze of healthy pohutukawa, flowering throughout the summer. Monitored bird life records show that since possums were eradicated there are 10 times more tui and silvereye living on the island. Honey production on the island pre-1080 possum control was 7kg per hive. One year later it rose to 25kg per hive, and two years later it was 50kg per hive. Read the study here |