Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Times of India
The Times of India
World
TOI World Desk

In 1958, Hawaii introduced barn owls to control rats in sugarcane fields; the owls spread across the islands and began killing endangered seabirds

In the late 1950s, Hawaii brought in a predator to fight a pest. Barn owls were introduced to the islands as a biological-control measure against rats, which were considered a serious threat to the sugar industry. The plan appeared straightforward: release a natural hunter and allow it to reduce the rodent population.

Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.