Nine years after official pest-free status, Macquarie Island is recovering but it's a 'long game'

Feral cats were the first pests to be eradicated but led to a boom in rats and rabbits. (Supplied: Evan Jones)

• In short: Ecologists say sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island is visibly recovering, nine years after it was declared pest-free
• What's next? Scientists will analyse samples collected on the World Heritage island to better understand other threats, such as climate change

When Justine Shaw visited sub-Antarctic Macquarie Island 27 years ago, the landscape was far from pristine.