In 1869, 100 sheep were introduced to Mexico’s Socorro Island; the herd grew to about 5,000 and damaged 30% of the island, then removing 1,762 helped forest cover rise from 29% to 85%
Representative Image (AI-generated) Imagine an island where a herd introduced for ranching gradually became one of the biggest threats to its native ecosystem. That is what happened on Mexico’s Socorro Island, where about 100 sheep introduced in 1869 eventually became feral and reached an estimated 5,000 animals by 1960. Over decades, overgrazing contributed to severe…