Enderby Island

Farm livestock and other animals were introduced onto the Auckland Islands during the 19th century. Most were eradicated by the late 20th century, but before then, some goats (Capra aegagrus hircus), rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), cattle (Bos taurus) and pigs (Sus scrofa) that were considered to have unique genetic characteristics were taken to mainland New Zealand with a view to studying and maintaining their particular breeds.

Cattle (Bos taurus) were liberated on 695 ha Enderby Island, the northernmost of the Auckland Island group, in 1894–96, after a previous liberation had died out. After reaching a peak population of c. 100 animals, they established a relatively stable population of 35–60 animals for the latter half of the 20th century. Eradication was mandated in the 1987 Auckland Islands Management Plan, but proposals for eradication were not universally supported due to the interesting traits of this long-isolated population and its adaptation to the subantarctic environment of the island.