Laysan Albatrosses in Hawaii’s Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge are no longer threatened by feral pigs

A feral pig approaches an incubating Laysan Albatross in the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge

Feral pigs are a major predator of breeding seabirds on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai, including within the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge where no less than 64 eggs of the Laysan Albatross Phoebastria immutabilis were reported lost to pigs in 2023 prior to the completion of a predator-proof fence.  The fence was finally completed in October 2023, but it appears some feral pigs remained within the enclosed area until recently.  It has now been announced by the environmental NPO Pacific Rim Conservation that the fenced area is now free of pigs, as described with trail camera photographs on its Facebook Page.

The feral pig has displaced the Laysan Albatross and consumes its egg

“Since late 2022, Pacific Rim Conservation has led a targeted effort to eradicate feral pigs within the predator-exclusion fence at Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge.  By May 2025, this initiative successfully eliminated the threat posed by feral pigs to the native seabird populations within the fence.  These invasive pigs had been directly responsible for the destruction of numerous nests, including those of the Laysan Albatross (mōlī), Hawaiian Goose (nēnē), Wedge-tailed Shearwater (ʻuaʻu kani), and Red and White-tailed Tropicbirds (koaʻe ʻula & koaʻe kea).”

A feral pig within the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge feeds on a Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacifica in October 2024 (click here)

“The removal of this key predator marks a significant victory in the ongoing restoration of the refuge’s ecosystem, promoting the recovery of native seabird species within this vital habitat.  With feral pigs no longer posing a threat to seabird nesting success, efforts can now focus on long-term monitoring and habitat restoration to ensure these species continue to thrive in their natural environment for generations to come.”

John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, 13 August 2025