Animals in Guam

Guam is a small US territory in the western Pacific. It has a very hot and humid climate. Its wildlife includes geckos, pigs, chickens and boonie dogs. Unfortunately, since World War II many native species have been threatened due to the introduction of new predators.
For example, the brown tree snake is abundant on the island. It is not indigenous to the island but it is believed to have been introduced to the US territory at the end of World War II by an American military vessel. Since they have no known predator, there are thought to be millions of them on the island. However, humans rarely see them because they are nocturnal. Unfortunately, that has not stopped them from decimating the local bird population. These snakes have managed to wipe out a few species and severely reduce the population of others. In fact, the Guam Rail and the Guam Kingfiher are only seen in captivity.
Another animal that has seen its population decline is the Carabao. They are large animals with curved horns, a long face and a rectangular muzzle. They are quiet animals who will occasionally snort. Carabao races were very common in the 1960's when the animals were more abundant. Today, these animals are only found in a few areas, including the Naval Magazine in Santa Rita where they are protected from hunting.
Because many animals are threatened, in 1993 the Guam National Wildlife Refuge was set up to protect the native animal population. Besides the birds mentioned above, this area has the islands last known population of the Mariano fruit bat.
In conclusion, Guam is a nation rich in wildlife. Unfortunately, many of the native species have been threatened in recent years.