Invasive species issue on Little Cayman?

[agilis]

In many ways it’s worse here in Hawaiʻi. Most living things you see on land and in our streams are alien. Most native birds and many native plants are endangered or already extinct.
In the ocean, it’s better but the intentionally introduced Roi is our version of the Caribbean’s Lionfish.

Problem animals include mongoose (also intentionally introduced), feral pigs, feral dogs, coqui frogs, little fire ants, … and of course rats and mice, roaches, etc.

However, they do a pretty good job of keeping snakes out (except for the two-legged kind).

Island creatures tend to be extremely vulnerable to exotic introductions. They evolved to fill a very narrow niche and can seldom compete with more generalized mainland life forms.

This is also true of many Island humans, who virtually disappeared as soon as they were exposed to Europeans and Asians. Polynesians virtually vanished despite being physically more robust and stronger. They had no resistance to thing like the common cold or the flu. They died in the hundreds of thousands all over the Pacific.

Florida and Hawaii share a common exotic reptile that is commercially exploited. Most Jackson's Chameleons in the pet trade come from Hawaii. They are actually native to Central African mountains. Two other rather expensive species of Chameleon have established reproducing colonies in south Florida and are actively hunted for the pet trade.

The mention of feral pigs in Hawaii always remind me of that ancient term "lo ihi pua'a".

Mongoose have exterminated many lovely native species all over the Caribbean. They were introduced by sugar cane plantations to kill Cane Rats but found many much easier prey animals and birds.

 

[PatW]

Nearly every fish that is popular in the reef aquarium hobby has been seen in FL waters. People get a fish and most are from the Pacific. They can no longer keep it so they toss it into the ocean.

Pacific anemone fish are not supposed to shelter in the anemones found in the Caribbean. I have seen them do it, I guessed the fish did not know that they are breaking the rules.

Released exotics have been a problem for years. Some are relatively benign like brown trout. Others are less so like English sparrows and starlings. Others become a near plague like wild hogs, lion fish and kudzu.

 

[redacted]

Nearly every fish that is popular in the reef aquarium hobby has been seen in FL waters. People get a fish and most are from the Pacific. They can no longer keep it so they toss it into the ocean.

Pacific anemone fish are not supposed to shelter in the anemones found in the Caribbean. I have seen them do it, I guessed the fish did not know that they are breaking the rules.

Released exotics have been a problem for years. Some are relatively benign like brown trout. Others are less so like English sparrows and starlings. Others become a near plague like wild hogs, lion fish and kudzu.

I spent years trying to wipe out brown trout (rainbows didn't belong in eastern USA either) and ringneck pheasant; and all I got was some good eating.