What in the World cover image

What in the World

Oh rats! How cities from New York to Mombasa are taking on pests

Aug 5, 2024
12:14

Animals are essential in maintaining ecosystem balance, but in some cases they can have the opposite effect. In the coastal city of Mombasa, Kenya, authorities are looking to cull 1 million Indian house crows. Conservationists say they are becoming a nuisance and have significantly reduced the number of small indigenous birds in the region. So how will they be dealt with? The BBC’s Dorcas Wangira, an Africa health correspondent, explains.

Pest are an issue in New York too. There’s estimated to be 3 million rats scurrying around the Big Apple and the city’s mayor has made it his mission to deal with the rocketing number of rodents by hiring a ‘rat tsar’. Sam Cabral, a BBC reporter in New York, tells us more.

Finally, we hear from Predator Free Wellington, an organisation in New Zealand, which is hoping to completely remove predators (like rats and possums) by 2050.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Mora Morrison and Baldeep Chahal Editor: Emily Horler

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode