Small Island Revitalized as a Sanctuary for Wildlife 

There is something pretty amazing happening on a tiny island called Redonda. It's part of Antigua and Barbuda, and they are revitalizing it into this incredible wildlife sanctuary! It's all about keeping this place safe and sound for the animals that call it home, now and in the future. 

Imagine a place that was once overrun by rats, but now, it's transformed into this beautiful, green spot brimming with life. That's the new and improved Redonda for you! Just a few years back, it was kind of a rocky, pest-filled place, but now? It's a lush paradise with all sorts of creatures thriving there. 

Tenacious Antiguans and Barbudans 

The government in Antigua and Barbuda did something worthy of the news. They picked this one-mile-long part of their little third island, Redonda, and said, "Let's protect this." Why? Because it's vital to the birds that are passing through. They wanted to give these birds a place to nest and thrive. 

And get this – the protected area, called the Redonda Ecosystem Reserve, isn't just the island. It includes the sea around it, like seagrass meadows and a coral reef, covering a massive 30,000 hectares (that's 74,000 acres!). Thanks to this, the country is hitting a big environmental goal way ahead of schedule. The goal? Protecting 30% of our planet for nature by 2030. Pretty impressive, right? 

A Little of Redonda’s History 

Two hundred years after Christopher Columbus discovered the third island, humans invaded the area. And with that, they brought black rats and feral goats.  

These animals - left to fend for themselves, ate away at everything that was left. After a time, the vegetation was gone. In fact, there was nothing holding the land together. Rocks and soil fell into the ocean, and birds were no longer migrating and building their nests. The debris falling into the sea was affecting the ecosystem below the water’s surface. Things couldn’t get worse for the tiny island. 

Redonda: Withstanding Life Again 

“That’s all we did. We just removed the species that were not supposed to be there and within months we saw the vegetation growing back – the island rebounding,” says Johnella Bradshaw, Redonda program coordinator for the Environmental Awareness Group (EAG), an Antiguan NGO leading the project. 

“Up to this date, we haven’t planted anything, we haven’t reintroduced any species. We just removed the rats and the goats, and the island transformed right in front of our eyes,” she says. 

If you are fortunate enough to visit Redonda now, you'll see what all the buzz is about. It's a biodiverse hotspot for wildlife! From globally integral seabird colonies to unique lizards and plenty of endangered and additional species that need our help, it's all there. 

Now you know the story of a small island revitalized as a sanctuary for wildlife. It's the story of Redonda – a small spot making a big difference in the world of wildlife and conservation. Amazing, right? 

CITED: www.bbc.com, www.cnn.com, www.ehn.org