Habibas archipelago, located near Oran (Algeria), is a National Reserve since 2002 and considered as SPAMI by the PNUE (Barcelona Convention). It’s managed by the Algerian Commissariat National du Littoral. The islands to this archipelago harbour many threatened animal and plant species. Surveys and monitoring activities done in this archipelago revealed the presence of an invasive species, the black rat Rattus rattus, that threats sea bird populations.
The aim of our study was to assess the feasibility of a partial or total eradication of the black rat from the archipelago. Trapping conducted during field sessions confirmed that the black rat is the only mammal on all the islands. The faunistic inventories reveal that in the islands are still present sea birds species that can be threatened by the presence of the black rat, such as Cory’s Shearwater and Audouin’s Gull.
The results of our study show that rodent control is technically feasible and exhibit important conservation interest.
Two eradication methods are relevant. The first is the integrated method consists of rodent trapping followed by poisoning with an anticoagulant. The second is the chimical eradication based on poisoned baits dispersed by helicopter. Because of the ambiguity of the legal status of the site and intensive attendance of fisherman, the risk of re-invasion is currently high. Whatever the method used to eradicate, the establishment of a permanent control system is required. On the other hand, the establishment of a zero point is possible to measure the impact of long-term eradication.
