Indonesia's 'Snake Island' is now 'Rat Island," and its reef life could pay the price

Indonesia’s Manuk Island in the Banda Sea—once nicknamed “Snake Island” for its large numbers of sea snakes—is now being likened to “Rat Island” as invasive rats disrupt the island’s ecosystem. A community-led conservation effort aims to restore Manuk, the Banda Sea’s largest seabird breeding colony, where divers value both its volcanic setting and reef life. The push is led by Edi Frommenwiler, an underwater videographer and owner of the Pindito. Divernet reports seabird numbers have fallen from about 90,000 in the early 1970s to around 7,000 a decade later, with rats believed to have arrived via fishing boats. Frommenwiler is raising $25,000 to start eradication planning, seeking up to $1 million, with helicopters or drones considered.