Donate

Personal message

ROMARIO’S NEW YEAR APPEAL FOR A MOUSE-FREE MARION ISLAND

 

“When we take care of nature, we take care of ourselves” – Romario Valentine

 

South Africa’s Marion Island is the scene of a struggle for survival with global significance.  Invasive House Mice, accidentally introduced by humans in the early 19th century, are preying on the Southern Ocean island’s globally important seabirds and invertebrates, adversely impacting its vegetation and undermining the integrity of the entire ecosystem.  With each passing moment, this dangerous intruder poses an ever-growing threat to the remarkable biodiversity of Marion, compelling an urgent response to protect this important site and its cherished seabirds.

Now, as it is summer, most of Marion Island’s seabirds have returned to their breeding grounds.  But the island is no longer the haven it used to be.  The Mouse-Free Marion Project aims to eradicate the “killer” mice by an aerial drop of rodenticide-laced cereal bait over the entire island during winter 2026.  To this end it has been looking towards the informed and interested public to Sponsor a Hectare with a R1000 donation.  To date, 6700 ha (a little over one-fifth of the 30 000-ha target) have been sponsored by more than 1500 caring individuals.  Too much for your pocket?  There is now an opportunity for those who find R1000 a little steep.  Online crowdfunding platforms such as BackaBuddy allow for smaller contributions from those who can spare R100 or more, but perhaps not as much as R1000, the chance to feel they are part of the project. Of course, donations of more than the cost of a single hectare will also be greatly welcomed!

Romario Valentine is an 12-year-old environmental campaigner who received BirdLife South Africa’s Owlet Award in 2022.  Romario has been an active environmentalist since the age of 6. He’s the author of Protect our Planet – Take action with Romario which was released in September 2022. It’s a fun science academic book that addresses climate change and environmental challenges including guidance on how anyone can become an ‘earth guardian’.  To date Romario has done over 250 beach clean ups and planted or sponsored over 455 trees in 31 countries around the world.

Last summer, Romario raised over R 21 000 for the Mouse-Free Marion Project via a successful online appeal, Romario’s Seabirds Christmas Gift, more than twice his original target (click here).  Romario is now repeating his campaign as Romario’s New Year Appeal for a Mouse-Free Marion Island, asking you to contribute – for the first time or again - with the aim of raising as much, or more, than he did a year ago.  This allows you to contribute the sum you can afford, knowing that your contribution will join with others to sponsor a hectare (or more) of Marion Island.  In making your donation, please consider clicking on “Fees Covered’, so that the MFM Project will receive the full amount you have chosen.  To subscribe to the free MFM Project’s quarterly newsletter provide your details at https://mousefreemarion.org/contact.

 

To learn more about Marion Island and the epic struggle it faces with the House Mouse, watch a video narrated by singer Zolani Mahola, “The One Who Sings” of Freshly Ground fame.

 

The Mouse-Free Marion Project is a partnership between South Africa’s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment and BirdLife South Africa.

Donate to this charity

Donations

Donate to this charity