Feral Cats Removed from Japanese Islands Lead to Unexpected Outcome

The red-headed wood pigeon, critically endangered on Japan’s Ogasawara Islands, has experienced a remarkable recovery after feral cats were removed, with its population rebounding rapidly. Genetic analysis revealed that this species has a lower load of harmful mutations due to long-term genetic purging, which contributed to its resilience despite a small population size. This case challenges the common belief that inbreeding always hampers recovery, highlighting the importance of genetic factors in conservation success.