include the house mouse, brown rat, and feral cats. An eradication campaign of these invasive species was started in 2023. A distinct breed of wild cattle, Amsterdam Island cattle, also inhabited the island from 1871 to 2010. They originated from the introduction of five animals by Heurtin during his brief attempt at settlement of the island in 1871, and by 1988 had increased to an estimated 2,000. Following recognition that the cattle were damaging the island ecosystems, a fence was built restricting them to the northern part of the island. In 2007 it was decided to eradicate the population of cattle entirely, resulting in the slaughter of the cattle between 2008 and 2010. See also List of volcanoes in French Southern and Antarctic Lands French overseas departments and territories Administrative divisions of France List of French islands in the Indian and Pacific oceans References Further reading External links Ile Amsterdam visit (photos from a tourist's recent visit) French Colonies—Saint-Paul & Amsterdam Islands, Discover France French Southern and Antarctic Lands at the CIA World Factbook Antipodes of the USA Amsterdam Volcanoes of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands Potentially active volcanoes Seal hunting