Galápagos Drones

When conservators of the Galápagos Islands realized that a rat infestation was threatening local wildlife, they turned to a New Zealand drone company, Envico, for help. Monitoring activities in early 2018 determined that North Seymour was infested by black (Rattus rattus) and brown rats (Rattus norvegicus). The Directorate of the Galápagos National Park immediately began managing the project’s development after declaring a state of emergency, which secured funds from the Fund for Sustainable Environmental Investments. Bell Laboratories produced 3,000 kilograms (6,600 lb.) of “conservation bait”—a rodenticide specially developed to only attract rats—for the eradication. The bait’s formula was designed especially for projects within the Galápagos Archipelago due to their unique weather conditions. Karl Campbell, Island Conservation South American Regional Director, highlighted that before drones were available, they had to use…