A HOUSE CAT WAS BROUGHT TO A REMOTE ISLAND IN 1894 – A YEAR LATER A SPECIES WAS EXTINCT

Social media users are well aware of humanity’s fascination with cats. Amid the playful memes that portray our feline friends as cunning rulers, there exists a lesser-known, poignant chapter in cat history. This tale unfolds on a remote island in New Zealand, involving a lighthouse keeper, his pregnant cat named “Tibbles,” and a small, flightless bird—the Lyall’s wren.

Lighthouses were typically positioned in isolated areas or on islands to guide ships safely through perilous waters and around hazardous coastlines. This strategic placement, crucial for maritime navigation, meant that lighthouse keepers often lived in remote and inaccessible locations. The solitude and routine of their vital duties prompted many keepers to seek companionship from pets, which not only offered emotional support but also assisted in controlling pests.

David Lyall, a lighthouse keeper, relocated with his family—including his wife, at least one son, and a cat—to Stephens Island in the late 19th century. This isolated island, situated in New Zealand’s Cook Strait, remained pristine and untouched due to minimal human presence. Lyall, an amateur natural history enthusiast, was thrilled about the abundance of species awaiting discovery and study. However, little did he know that bringing his cat Tibbles along would lead to a costly mistake.

The Discovery of Stephens Island Wren

After several shipwrecks near Stephens Island in the 19th century, the New Zealand Maritime authorities decided to erect a lighthouse there to safeguard seafarers from the perilous waters. They appointed David Lyall, an enthusiastic assistant lighthouse keeper at the time, with the responsibility of maintaining the wick and ensuring the beacon burned brightly.

Tibbles was equally eager upon arrival, her feline instincts kicking in almost immediately. Despite their domestication, cats retain strong predatory instincts inherited from their wild ancestors. This drive is more than just survival—it includes play and natural behaviors that help sharpen their hunting skills.

On Stephens Island, Tibbles encountered an environment teeming with opportunities to satisfy these instincts. The native species, including the unsuspecting Lyall’s Wren, had no previous exposure to mammalian predators and were ill-prepared for Tibbles’ hunting prowess.

Among the prey captured by the house cat was a curious bird, previously unknown to ornithology and found exclusively on Stephens Island. Tibbles would often bring back these birds—sometimes half-eaten, sometimes intact—as “presents” for Lyall. He, in turn, performed amateur taxidermy on the intact specimens and presented them to prominent ornithologists of the era, including H.H. Travers.

This bird, later named the Stephens Island wren or Lyall’s wren (Traversia lyalli), possessed several distinctive traits. Resembling a mouse more than a typical bird, it led a secretive life, darting among logs and beneath rocks. It occasionally exhibited nocturnal behavior and had adapted well to the island’s environment with its large feet and short tail, which facilitated movement through dense underbrush rather than flight. Possibly due to abundant food resources or the absence of predators, Lyall’s wren never developed the ability to fly, making it a remarkable example of a flightless songbird in nature.

This made them easy prey for Tibbles and her kittens, who were born feral in Stephens Island not long after the Lyall family moved there in 1894.

A House Cat And Its Feral Babies Toppled A Fragile Ecosystem

Before Tibbles and other predators arrived, the Lyall’s wren had evolved in an environment free from predators. Being flightless, it relied on agility and camouflage to evade danger. However, these defenses were insufficient against a predatory mammal like Tibbles and her offspring.

Cats, known for their prolific reproduction, can produce multiple litters per year with several kittens each. Tibbles herself may have birthed up to eight kittens, each capable of breeding within four months. This rapid reproductive cycle led to a burgeoning feline population, unchecked by natural predators.

As these feral cats multiplied, they had a profound impact on the delicate ecological balance of the island. Each kitten grew swiftly, learning to hunt and survive in the wild, skills that proved devastatingly effective against native species like the Lyall’s wren.

Within a year of Tibbles’ arrival while pregnant, the population of Lyall’s wrens plummeted. The few specimens collected and preserved by David Lyall were sent to various museums. Sadly, by the time the full extent of the cats’ impact on the birds was realized, it was too late. The last documented sighting of a live Lyall’s wren occurred in 1895, just a year after Tibbles came to Stephens Island.

Why Flightless Birds Suffer Most From Human-Driven Extinction

Regrettably, Lyall’s wren, being flightless, became easy prey for the burgeoning cat population on the island. According to a 2020 article in Science Advances, when predator species are introduced into ecosystems, flightless birds are particularly vulnerable to extinction.

While it’s tempting to assign blame to Tibbles, it’s crucial to acknowledge the human factor. The article highlights that flightless birds suffer disproportionately from human-induced extinctions compared to other species. The authors note, “Flightless species have faced extinction more frequently than others since the advent of human settlements.”

Human actions set the stage for the extinction of Lyall’s wren by introducing non-native predators to the island.