caretakers act as customs officers for visiting yachts, as well as monitoring the atoll's birdlife. Previous caretakers have brought their families with them, so the population was significantly higher, but that is not the case today. The barge that brings them also brings six months of supplies such as canned food, and several more rangers that clean the island on the first day and leave the caretakers behind. The only way to visit the island is with a private yacht or by chartered expedition from Rarotonga, and visitors require permits from the park authorities before being permitted to land. Notes References (1944): The Island of Desire. (full text). (1973): Sisters In The Sun: The Story of Suwarrow and Palmerston Atolls. . (2001): The status of seabird colonies on the Cook Islands atoll of Suwarrow. Bird Conservation International 11(4): 309–318. (HTML abstract) (1966): An Island to Oneself. . (1954): Siege of Suwarrow. Walkabout 1 March: 34–35. External links Suwarrow National Park Suwarrow – A Real Treasure Island Suwarrow – Island of Mystery An Island to Oneself: The story of Tom Neale Welcome to Suvorov Suwarrow and Palmerston Photo Gallery Expeditions to Suwarrow – Operator's Web Site Atolls of the Cook Islands Important Bird Areas of the Cook Islands Seabird colonies Islands of the Cook Islands Northern Cook Islands