Above Picture:  Barbara Creecy, Minister, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, South Africa

As a partnership between the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and BirdLife South Africa, the Mouse-Free Marion (MFM) Project is primarily a national endeavour.  However, an operation as large as eradicating House Mice over nearly 30 000 hectares by an aerial bait-spreading operation requires a global approach to its planning, funding and execution.  Indeed, the project’s management team has an international flavour as it includes New Zealander Keith Springer as Operations Manager and Heidi Whitman in the United States of America as Chief Philanthropy Officer, who join South Africans Anton Wolfaardt (Project Manager), Robyn Adams (Communication Officer and Project Assistant) and Capetonian John Cooper as News Correspondent in an honorary capacity.

Given the cost of the operation, fund raising also requires an international approach, so it is pleasing that “Sponsor a Hectare” donations are coming in from a number of countries, including so far Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States; in fact, the first 100-ha sponsorship received came from a supporter in Taiwan.  Larger institutional donations have come from Switzerland and from other countries.

In support of the project’s international approach, endorsements are being received from leaders in their fields from around the world, as well as at home.  Support from within South Africa comes from the DFFE Minister, Barbara Creecy who writes “Very few South Africans have visited, or will ever get a chance to visit, the country’s sub-Antarctic Marion Island.  Yet hundreds are making their donations towards eradicating the island’s albatross-killing mice via the Mouse-Free Marion Project.  As Minister of the Department, I wish it every success and urge you to support it in any way you can!”.

Mavuso Msimang

The Minister’s endorsement is supported by Dr Mavuso Msimang, Chairperson of the Mouse-Free Marion Non-Profit Company Board: “I have spent large parts of my career transforming agencies that manage natural areas in South Africa. It is imperative that protected areas serve their purpose in providing safe areas for the species that call them home. I am honoured to chair this project that not only secures the future for Marion Island’s seabirds but ensures that this Special Nature Reserve is maintained for all its species and for generations to come”

Mark D Anderson

 

BirdLife South Africa’s Chief Executive Officer, Mark Anderson chairs the Mouse-Free Marion Management Committee and says “There are few more important bird conservation projects in Africa and even globally, and the successful completion of this work will ultimately save the lives of millions of seabirds.  BirdLife South Africa is pleased to be collaborating with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.  We are very grateful for the support we are receiving from a large number of donors, and people who are passionate about seabird conservation should consider supporting this important cause.  A team of experts has been assembled to undertake the Mouse-Free Marion Project, and this bodes well for its success.”

Peter Ryan

Professor Peter Ryan, Director of the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology at the University of Cape Town, chairs the Mouse-Free Marion Scientific and Technical Advisory Group (STAG), which has over 50 members scattered worldwide to draw upon for expert advice.  He writes “Island restoration efforts, such as the Mouse-Free Marion Project, provide one of the most effective, long-lasting conservation interventions.  Being involved in the Gough Island Restoration Programme has been a highlight of my career, and I can only hope that we are able to raise the necessary funds to eradicate mice from Marion Island.”

From outside South Africa the MFM Project has received support and best wishes from seabird biologists, conservation managers and field guide authors as the following endorsements show.

John Croxall, with a Wandering Albatross on Bird Island, South Georgia

“I spent my career as a biologist with the British Antarctic Survey studying the seabirds of South Georgia in the South Atlantic.  Over many visits I saw the devastating effects of the island’s introduced rodents on the island’s birds.  Now South Georgia’s rats and mice have gone and the island’s bird are recovering fast, I look forward to hearing of a similar success on Marion Island with the eradication of its albatross- and petrel-killing mice” – Professor John Croxall, CBE, FRS, United Kingdom.

Tony Martin in front of King Penguins on South Georgia

“As the Leader of ‘Team Rat’ that successfully eradicated Norway Rats and House Mice on South Georgia over five seasons last decade, I am encouraged by a similar effort being planned by South Africa to eradicate the invasive mice of Marion Island.  I am convinced that within a year of success signs of recovery will be as apparent as they have been on South Georgia.” –  Professor Tony Martin, University of Dundee; 2017 Conservationist of the Year of the Zoological Society of London.

Peter Harrison in his habitat: at sea on a ship with binoculars ready

“I had the privilege of visiting Marion Island in 1983 as a guest of the South African National Antarctic Programme and the University of Cape Town’s FitzPatrick Institute of African Ornithology.  Now nearly four decades later I am pleased to offer my support towards the Mouse-Free Marion Project that will help conserve the albatrosses and petrels I love.”  – Peter Harrison, MBE.

Patricia Zurita

“BirdLife International and her partners have been very committed to the eradication of island pests which threaten birds and biodiversity.  The UK’s Gough Island Restoration Programme, which was undertaken by our UK partner, the RSPB, received substantial logistic help from South Africa to rid that island of its predatory House Mice.  Now that South Africa is working towards eradicating Marion Island’s mice, it gives me pleasure to fully endorse and salute BirdLife South Africa’s admirable efforts.” – Patricia Zurita, Chief Executive Officer, BirdLife International.

Graça Machel

Support from within the southern African region has also come from Graça Machel, widow of former Presidents Samora Machel of Mozambique and Nelson Mandela of South Africa, and a past Chancellor of the University of Cape Town: “I heartily endorse the Mouse-Free Marion project, to restore the natural diversity on the island – and particularly to allow the various species of albatrosses, petrels and prions to build back their numbers in the sanctuary of the island.  These are global species which are in great decline, owing to a variety of impacts – over-fishing, victims of by-catch, global warming – but the potentially fatal blow is the destruction of their breeding sanctuaries through invasive species.  This project must succeed.”

These endorsements from within and outside South Africa encourage members of the MFM Management Team to redouble their efforts to see the end of Marion Island’s mice.

John Cooper, News Correspondent & Member, Scientific and Technical Advisory Group, Mouse-Free Marion Project, 07 December 2021