Feral sheep and cattle and royal albatrosses on Campbell Island; population trends and habitat changes

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Abstract
Sheep farming on Campbell Island began in 1895 and ended in 1931. The sheep population peaked at 8500 in 1910; only 1000 feral sheep were counted in 1961, but by 1969 there were 3000. The island was divided with a fence in 1970 and the sheep on the northern half were shot. Sheep continued to increase south of the fence, from 2088 in 1969 to 2521 in 1971 and, after a decline to 2400 in 1976, to 2861 in 1977. Breeding pairs of royal albatrosses numbered 2278 in 1958, 4344 in 1969, 5336 in 1976, and 4906 in 1977 - the first time the breeding population of this normally biennial breeder had been counted in two consecutive years. The number of feral cattle decreased from 20 in 1971 to 11 in 1977. These population trends are discussed in the context of changes to the flora in grazed and stock-free areas.

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