New Zealand leads world in island pest eradication, study finds

International study places country at the top of the list for fighting invasive species, though it warns that the pace of eradication is slowing

New Zealand's unremitting war against pests has earned it the global top spot for island pest eradication but researchers warn the pace of eradication is slowing.

An international study, published in Scientific Reports, found New Zealand leads the world in creating island sanctuaries and is responsible for nearly a quarter of the world's island pest eradications. Australia is the second most successful with just over 12% of global eradications.