Fears of ecological disaster for St Kilda

[theHandpuppet]

Source: The Scotsman

Fears of ecological disaster for St Kilda
By ALASTAIR DALTON AND FRANK URQUHART

URGENT action was being taken last night to protect the fragile environment of St Kilda – Britain's first World Heritage Site – amid fears that rats could leap ashore from a stricken fishing boat
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Following a dramatic day in which 14 Spanish fishermen were airlifted to safety when their vessel foundered on rocks in a force-nine gale and mountainous seas, it emerged that the islands' seabird colony could be under threat from rodents.

Experts believe it is possible that rats on board the vessel, which is currently trapped against rocks on the main island's coast, will move on to land, where at present the only mammals are mice and sheep.

The National Trust for Scotland (NTS) – which owns the group of islands, 44 miles west of Benbecula – said St Kilda's seabird colony could be decimated if rats get ashore....

Read more: http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Fears-of-ecological-disaster-for.3737673.jp

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There's also a concern about the trawler estimated 8,000 litres of diesel and oil if it leaked. This could be a major disaster for many species of seabirds in the northeast Atlantic!

[mac2]

1. Do the Empire Builders want to do construction there?

Two legged rats I bet.

[NYC]

2. Picture of the Soay Sheep that live there:

[muriel_volestrangler]

3. Surely a three legged sheep should live on the Isle of Man?

[NYC]

4. He's got four.

The front two are closely aligned in the photograph.

Not much of a tail, though. Like a Manx cat?

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. Oh, I see - I mistook the tuft of chest hair for a leg stump

:dunce:

[flamingyouth]

5. I missed this earlier.

This is terrible. I've been reading a couple of books lately about the history of St Kilda and its unique ecosystem. I hope they can contain this. :(