Inundated by rabbits, Robben Island in South Africa, will close for several weeks as officials cull the local population, BBC News reports. The island is home to the prison where former South African President Nelson Mandela was held for 18 years.
According to officials, the rabbit population has become so unwieldy that it endangers the island’s vegetation and historic buildings.
“The current population is so large that it threatens to permanently damage the island’s sensitive vegetation, and poses a serious threat to other fauna species,” said Seelan Naidoo, an official at the Robben Island museum.
The UN World Heritage site, which has become one of the country’s most famous tourist attractions, will close from November 1-16 so officials can carry out a humane culling of the animals. Officials also say they will carry out an island-wide sterilization program to keep the rabbit population at a manageable and sustainable size.
Image credit: peterastn via flickr under a Creative Commons License
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Timothy B. Hurst
Tim is the founder of ecopolitology and the executive editor at LiveOAK Media where he writes regularly about the politics of energy and the environment, green business and clean tech. When not reading, writing, thinking or talking about environmental politics with anyone who will listen, Tim spends his time skiing in Colorado's high country, hiking with his dog, and getting dirty in his vegetable garden.
One Response to Rabbits Overrun Nelson Mandela’s Jail of 18 Years
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Why not consider the rabbits as a food resource and harvest them?