In 1895, Campbell Island, a remote island in the southern Pacific Ocean, began its journey into livestock farming with the introduction of 300 to 400 merino or crossbred merino sheep. These sheep were chosen for their wool production and ability to thrive in various climates. In 1901, an additional 3,000 sheep of similar breed were brought to the island. The project, initially aimed at producing food and wool, quickly became problematic. By 1913, the sheep population had grown to around 7,000 to 8,000, but the island's vegetation, which grows very slowly due to its southern latitude, could not support such a large number of animals. By 1909, two-thirds of the island was already grazed, leading to unsustainable pressure on the local ecosystem. The overgrazing caused severe environmental damage, including soil erosion and the loss of native plant species. By 1931, the sheep population had dropped to about 4,000 due to economic factors, including the collapse of wool and meat prices in 1929. The farm was abandoned, leaving the sheep to roam freely. Although the population continued to decline, reaching around 1,000 by 1958, the damage to the island’s landscape was already significant, with large areas of bare, eroded soil. Efforts to restore the island’s ecology began in the 1970s. In 1970, a fence was built to divide the island into two zones, allowing for the culling of 1,300 sheep on the northern side while leaving a similar number on the southern side. Another fence was added in 1984, further dividing the island into three zones and reducing the area occupied by sheep to about an eighth of the territory. By 1991, all sheep had been eradicated, with around 6,500 animals culled during the process, including some killed by the staff of the meteorological service. Despite the removal of sheep, the island still faced challenges. A small herd of cattle, introduced in 1902 and abandoned in 1931, persisted until the 1970s before being exterminated around 1984. Rats also posed a problem, as they had been introduced to the island and thrived in the altered environment. In 2001, a massive rat eradication project successfully removed Norwegian rats from the island, a feat recognized as the largest of its kind. This allowed the ecosystem to begin recovering, with seabirds returning and native species like the Campbell bunting, Campbell's pipit, and Campbell teal recolonizing the island. The removal of sheep and the subsequent vegetation recovery also led to the unexpected disappearance of cats, though the reason for this is still unclear.