Massive die out of European rabbits in Porto Santo Island: hunting disaster or conservation opportunity?

THE REMOVAL OF RABBITS FROM INDIAN OCEAN ISLANDS LED TO THE RECOVERY OF PALM SPECIES CONSIDERED TO BE EXTINCT

So much many invested in rabbit eradication from the other islands in the archipelago and now reintroducing this invasive species in Porto Santo just because of hunting interests is unacceptable!!

rabbits reintroduction in a island where it is not native?! Is to walk backwards taking into account the current scientific evolution on those problematic of the introduction of exotic species, even more for a small island! Reintroduce it yes where it is native and where it is needed, e.g. food to iberian-lynx

This is an economic and conservation opportunity that should not be missed! Tourist interested in biodiversity and rare species are more abundant and economically much more valuable than a small local population of people that like to shoot rabbits. I do appreciate that alternatives for the local community need to be sought. I have worked on the Isle of Wight in the UK where they have successfully kept grey squirrels (and deer) off the Island. Now it is one of the rare places for people that like to see the native red squirrel in the south of England, which has brought a considerable economic return to the local authorities through tourism. Dr. Niels Brouwers

NO more rabbits

Rabbits are among the greatest threats to island vegetation and in the case of Porto Santo the socio-economic benefits from hunting them are far less than the costs to farming, nature and tourism. The number of people who benefit from the rabbits is much less than the number who experience negative impacts.

Non-native rabbits do not belong on Islands. Please protect your ecosystem.

There is no question that the reintroduction of rabbits to Porto Santo will endanger the fragile island ecosystem.

Use this opportunity to make Porto Santo free of invasive rabbits.

As a conservation biologist who works on islands impacted by invasive European rabbits, I enthusiastically support the proposed initiative.

European rabbits have caused ecological and social problems wherever they have been introduced. While some social adaptation has been able to retrieve some benefit, I consider that in the balance the damage caused far outweighs the benefit.

Segunda opción!

I strongly support the elimination of non-native rabbits from the islands

Please save this island from a disastrous mistake for its native fauna and flora.

This is a poorly thought out proposal. Reintroducing an invasive species that already has influenced the ecology of the island and caused the extinction of endemic species is unfathomable. From what we currently understand about biodiversity is that that species are often linked, sometimes in unknown ways. Thus allowing rabbits to continue to affect the ecology known and unknown ways is only asking for more ecological and economic losses in the future. Todd D. Johnson, M.S., PhD Student, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign www.forestentomology.com

The die-off of rabbits has been helpful to the native ecology in many parts of Australia. Now Madeira has a chance.

As a person, intensively involved in removing European hares from Farallon Islands, Calif, I fully support this effort, and yes it's now a great opportunity. Can even enlist the hunting community to help!!!

We are dealing with similar impacts of introduced mammals on the Hawaiian Islands. Rabbits are no longer a major threat to our islands' biodiversity but just this morning I received notice of free ranging rabbits next to one of our premier National Parks containing numerous rare and endangered plants. Free ranging rabbits are not compatible with biodiversity and complementary multiple use.

Use the opportunity to rid the island of rabbits

Do an analysis to determine if the biodiversity/conservation outcomes will benefit the government more than the hunting opportunity, which only benefits a small part of the community.