Presence of aloctonous species

The first threat is the presence of aloctonous (non-autoctonous) species. That is to say, plants and animals that were accidentally introduced by human beings. Among those animals that were introduced and that have established themselves on the island are pigs, goats, cats, rats and the white tail deer.

In their search for food, the pigs root up the ground, which is washed away by the heavy rainfall, which in turn results in erosion. These materials are carried towards the ocean, which results in dirty water and sedimentation on the coral ecosystems that surround the island; this can lead to degradation and death.

Rats eat all kinds of organic matter, and on Cocos Island they eat different species of flora and fauna, endangering the incredible diversity of the island, especially that of the endemic species. The impact of the cats, goats and deer has not been studied, but it is assumed that their impact is less than that of the other two species.

Presence of aloctonous species | Illegal fishing | Tourism | Lack of resources