Don Merton (22.02.1939 – 10.04.2011)-Conservation pioneer and friend of Seychelles dies |18 April 2011

Merton who hailed form New Zealand has been lauded by that country’s minister for conservation Kate Wilkinson who said: “Don has an extraordinary legacy as a conservationist. His revolutionary techniques have helped to save native species like the kakapo and black robin”.

His groundbreaking methods brought New Zealand’s Black Robin back from a single female on a remote island in the Chathams to a flourishing population of more than 200 today. He also led the team responsible for discovering the last Kakapo in Fiordland and managing that species’ recovery through an innovative breeding programme on protected islands. He worked to save South Island Saddlebacks from extinction, and used his knowledge to help other species both in New Zealand and across the world.

Don started his career in conservation with the New Zealand Wildlife Service in the late 1950s, and quickly recognised the devastating impact rats and other introduced pests could have on native birds. He worked to eradicate pests from many New Zealand offshore islands, and overseas conservationists recognised his talents and recruited him to help remove pests, especially on islands in the Indian Ocean. In Mauritius he successfully eradicated rabbits from Round Island.

His work in Seychelles to eradicate rats and cats provided the impetus to Birdlife International, Nature Seychelles, the Seychelles government and private island owners to restore island ecosystems and save rare birds like the Seychelles magpie robin.

In 1995 he undertook the first successful rat eradication in Seychelles which was on Bird island.  When Norway rats invaded Fregate Island during hotel construction, the population of Seychelles magpie robin was in grave danger and he advised Birdlife International and the island management on eradication techniques. Owing to lack of resources this campaign failed.

In 2000, acting on Don’s detailed recommendations the government of Seychelles, private island owners and Nature Seychelles joined forces to eradicate rats and cats on several islands in 2000.  The islands were Fregate, Curieuse and Denis. Don led the eradication campaigns and his methods involved the use of the anti-coagulant rat bait called Brodifacoum dropped by helicopter. The methods and equipment were new to Seychelles and this set the stage for many other eradication campaigns by several other persons and organisations over the years.

In his native New Zealand Don was honoured with several environmental awards and a Queen's Service Medal for services to New Zealand in 1989. In 1992, Massey University granted him an honorary Doctorate of Science for his contribution to science.

He wrote or co-wrote more than 145 publications, including books, articles and scientific papers, to pass on his knowledge and techniques.

Contributed by Nirmal Jivan Shah, Nature Seychelles