New Zealand has become the first country to introduce a programme to completely eradicate rats and other pests by 2050.
Introduced species such as rats, possums and stoats will be targeted by the global first programme to wipe out the country’s “predators”, responsible for killing native birds.
According to government figures, rats, stoats and possums kill 25 million native New Zealand birds a year.
Particularly at risk is the country’s iconic Kiwi, which now number less than 70,000.
Prime Minister John Key said in a statement: “Our ambition is that by 2050 every single part of New Zealand will be completely free of rats, stoats and possums.
“This is the most ambitious conservation project attempted anywhere in the world, but we believe if we all work together as a country we can achieve it.”
The New Zealand government also claims that introduced species cost the country’s economy around £1.76bn every year.
The first steps of the programme will be to establish small areas of complete predator elimination then target larger urban areas and cities.
Many pest control methods have already been deployed in New Zealand, including the controversial 1080 pesticide used to kill possums.
Critics have argued that the poison can affect other animals and that baits or carcasses are deadly to dogs.
