Montserrat oriole recovery: The endemic Montserrat oriole always had an extremely small range, but the volcanic eruptions caused an extremely rapid population decline because the main range was in the forest destroyed by the volcano. A comprehensive programme of monitoring, research into causes of continuing decline, together with ex situ breeding was undertaken at the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust on Jersey. A Species Action Plan was published in 2005. One of the causes of the decline was ashfall from the volcano, alongside drought. Other major causes were rat predation and damage and damage by feral pigs. A control programme for the latter is currently being undertaken. |