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What is an introduced species?

With the arrival of humans came new species of animals and plants exotic to the islands. Since then the biological diversity of the islands has been seriously threatened by the severe impact of the introduced organisms. Already in many cases the introduced species have become pests that have dimished native populations, driving some to extinction and leaving others in clear danger of disappearing.

The well being of the fauna is only one of the reasons to control introduced animal species: the public health is another important reason and there are already many possible vectors and carriers of infectious animal diseases. Due to the lack of a health plan, epidemiological studies and a good system of hospitals, clinics and diagnostic centres there are no effective data to demonstrate the presence of pathological agents. Below is some information on how you can help us to control these species.

• Rats and Mice
• Cats and Dogs
• Pigeons de castilla
• Farm Animals
• Others

Rats and Mice

these animals can cause much damage to humans, especially children. They are carriers of more than 20 potentially fatal diseases (for example: Leptospirosis; Bubonic Plague; Typhoid Fever; Salmonella; Sarna etc.). Also they eat the eggs and young of animals native to the Galápagos. They consume our food, damage furniture, clothes, electric cables, home appliances etc. They destoy crops and plantations. they adapt to whatever inhabitat they are in. They can reproduce several times a year with one pair producing up to 200000 descendents in just 12 months. Their nests are between rocks, homes, cellars, wastelands and other places that you wouldn't expect. Furthermore the Galápagos has an advantageous climate, abundant food and no natural predators.

Campaign of combat

IMPORTANT

Collaborate with the erradication teams. They will show you the correct procedures to follow. Place poison in places where the rats pass by or conceal themselves. USe the poisons that are recommended by the island's health authorities who wil show you the correct way to use them. Remember to was your hands with alot of water and soap after handling the poison. Never leave the poison within the reach of children. Should anyone ingest the poison call a doctor immediately. Handle the dead rats with gloves or plastic bags then bury or incinerate them. Check on the bait daily and ensure that it is the rats that are eating it.

How can you help us combat rats and mice in the urban population...?

• Keep our living spaces clean and free of rubbish.
• Don't throw waste in the streets or wastelands.
• Place rubbish in closed plastic receptacles and deposit it only as the refuse collector is passing.
• Clear the farmyards of domestic animals.
• Sinks and drainpipes should be connected to septic wells or sewers.
• If you find nests inside your house cover the holes with stone, bricks or cement.

Cats and Dogs

These animals cause much damage to humans, especially children. They are carriers of disease. They bother people in the street and when they are loose they tend to attack passers-by, cyclists, motorcyclists and animals native to the Galápagos. They eat and spread our rubbish. Without control they reproduce and generate populacions of wild animals. These then wander the streets and countryside, avoiding human contact and hunting native animals like lizards, and small tortoises and iguanas. Cats in particular are habitual hunters catching a high number of native birds and destroying their nests and hatchlings.

Campaign of combat

A large part of the problem are the irresponsible owners. For this it is very important to educate the people and to help them to understand the problems. With your cooperation we hope that our projects of sterilization, censuses and canine and feline registration will be successful. Without the supposrt of the people the problem is giong to continue growing. There also exists a number of street animals that don't have owners. These can be adopted or failing that eliminated using humane methods.

How to be a responsible owner?

It is very easy to be a responsible owner and to get more enjoyment from your pet. Below we offer some advice on what a pet needs...

• Registration and sterilization - In this way the vet can check his health and wellbeing. He can also give you information about how to care for your pet. By ensuring your pet is sterilized you help control the canine and feline populations for the wellbeing of everyone.
• Training - the basic training to understand simple instructions like how to sit, to lie down, toilet training etc. and these can be achieved by the owner. For more adive on training please consult your vet.
• Exercise - Pets always need a lot of exercise. Without it they will be neither happy nor healthy. It is not enought to let them loose in the yard, they need to walk, to investigate and play with smells and to run in a safe palce secure from traffic and other dangers. But remember that all activities should be conducted under the presence and control of the owner. Also recall that there is a municipal order requiring that pets found in such sites should be wearing a collar and lead.
• A balanced diet - It is very important that pets eat well. If they eat rubbish they wil be sick and might make you ill too; and if they eat too much they are going to get fat and unhealthy.
• Veterinary obligations - All pets need the regular attention and care of a vet. If it is sick it is very important to know why - maybe it is something serious and possibly contagious to the owners, other pets or native or endemic animals.
• A safe place - This is very important because pets need protection and security fropm external dangers like cars and other dogs. It also provides them with a place to sleep and protect themselves. they need space to move, adequate supplies of clean water, and regular food.
• Love - Someone to care for them, brush them, comb them, wash them, and play with them. Without companionship´they become sad and lonely. Witout constant human contact they will not become accustomed to people and will be harder to control.

Pigeons de castilla

Pigeons de castilla were introduced to the Galápagos islands around 1972. In 1985 it was estimated that there were 230 introduced pigeons with 112 of them on San Cristóbal. Since then the numbers have grown.

The pigeons de castilla have made their home in urban areas. However, if the population continues to grow it will spread to the agricultural zones and eventually to the National Park and even other islands leading to an interaction between the pigeons de castilla and those animals native and endemic to the Galápagos.

Studies of the pigeons de castilla have identified two problems of cross infection:

• The virus that causes Newcastle disease in chickens and other birds has been found in the pigeons de castilla.
• There are parasites in the endemic Galápagos pigeons which have crossed over from the pigeons de castilla.

Possible effects on human health

In other parts of the world the pigeons de castilla has been associated with many human health problems. Already some of these have been detected in the Galápagos and while the pigeons persist there is a risk that others will follow...

The pigeons de castilla are carriers and transmiters of a wide range of bacteria, visruses, fungi and parasites.

• Salmonella - This is only one of many bacteria that pigeons de castilla transmit to humans resulting in crmaps and diarrhoea. In the USA there are at least 2 million people affected by salmonella every year with around 500 deaths.
• Toxoplasmosis - This is another disease transmitted by pigeons de castilla. Its symptoms are similar to 'flu but they can cause permanent damage to the bran and eyes. It represents a particular threat to women as it can affect their fertility as well as being a threat to unborn children causing them to be born with serious mental and phyisical problems. It is also transmitted by cats.
• Psitacosis - This disease is also transmitted from pigeons to humans. It has a mortality rate of 20% without treatment (around 1% with treatment) and in all cases can cause complications such as pneumonia, hepatitis, arthritis, and miscarriages.
• Histoplasmosis and Cryptococosis - these diseases are caused by fungi carried by pigeons in mnay places of the world including South America. Histoplasmosis can be fatal, even many years after the original infection.

Besides the diseases, these pigeons have parasites like fleas, ticks and lice and they accumulate in their tissues high concentrations of heavy metals like lead, cadmium and zinc which in turn present a threat to anyone who eats them.

Economic impact

The pigeons de castilla acn cause serous problems for the aviculture because they are carriers and transmitters of many bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites that affect other birds.

More than 20 avian diseases are may be caused by pigeons de castilla.

Farm birds are the most threatened by such diseases, for example Newcastle's and encaphalitis. This could cause serious economic losses for the breaders.

Studies carried out on the Galápagos have shown that these birds carry Newcastle's virus, a disease that could have a serious impact on the local aviculture.

Ecological impact

the pigeons de castilla have an interaction with other birds; this tendency, in combination with the gregarious behavious of the pigeons de castilla, facilitates the transmission of sicknesses between species. Apparently the pigeons have already introduced Trichomnus gallinae to wild bird populations.

In the Galápagos, due to the close relationship between the endemic pigeon and the introduced ones there is a high possibility of transmission of further diseases, not to forget the threat to farm birds especially from Newcastle's virus.

The pigeon de castilla can also transmit avian malaria, a sickness is potentially one of the greatest threats to the birds of the Galápagos. The impact of malaria on the birds of Hawaii is so serious that many species only survive in the highland zones of these Pacific islands.

Our project of elimination

It is better to prevent than to lament. Thus we wish to eliminate the pigeons de castilla before they infect the endemic birds. If more diseases arrive to these populations their recovery would be further complicated.

So far we have eliminated 743 individuals from San Cristóbal but there are still more than 50 remaining. If we don't completely eliminate the population there could be a revival in the population of pigeons de castilla. or this reason the control and monitering are of great importance.

Farm animals

The farm animals: goats, pigs, chickens, etc. are very important for human consumption. However, in the Galápagos thewy live alongside the people and even between people in the urban zones. This represents a danger to the health of the community as they can be carriers andd transimitters of many diseases. For this reason we are pursuing a campaign of relocation to the farms in the rural zones, via a program of education and information in the community. Only in the rural zone is it legally permitted to keep these animals. Thus we have a municipal order and the health code supporting our actions, confiscating animals which have not been relocated and giving them to institutions which serve the community.

Others

There are many other introduced species besides those mentioned above. these also cause problems for human health, the economy and the ecosystem. For example, insects, invasive plants and other pests etc.