Drones join in rat battle

ECUADOR has used drones to scatter rat poison on one of the Galapagos Islands in a bid to protect species including the world’s only nocturnal seagull, the archipelago’s national parks authority said.

The experiment, in which 3000kg of poison was distributed, was the first using drones, although some poison was also spread by rangers.

“The use of drones is more accurate, it also increases the feasibility and reduces the costs,” said Karl Campbell, director of the Island Conservation organisation, which supported the program.