Cat on the Island

The true story of David and his father who came to Stephens Island - a remote and pristine island off Cook Strait between the North and South Islands of New Zealand in 1894.

There they built a lighthouse to protect ships entering the strait chopping down the trees and demolishing the habitat of the birds. But worse than that they brought their pregnant cat with them.

The tiny flightless wrens had no natural defences against the predators and were wiped out in less than two years.

Realising what had happened conservation authorities began the official eradication of the cats but the damage was done.

The strikingly beautiful illustrations reinforce the tragedy of the obliteration of this tiny Eden a timely metaphor for that other paradise known as Earth. 'A story that must be heard ...beautifully told' Sun Herald