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On Tuesday 24th June 2014, the terrestrial section of the Division of Environment and Conservation received a report from Sooalo Tito Alatimu, a principal officer of the Forestry Division, regarding a complaint from a resident of Vailima due to an unusual seen of myna birds at his place. According to Sooalo, the complainant was shocked seeing more than 100 myna birds in his compound on Sunday and Monday in the early hours of the morning and late evening, it is very unusual and the first scene to happen while staying at Vailima.

Myna birds are categorized in the ‘starling family’, they are native to Southern Asia especially India, has many species and lastly became an introduced invasive species to many countries of the Pacific including Samoa. Specifically, there are two species in the country today, jungle myna and the common myna bird, both have different characteristics but brings harm to the environment and people as whole. In 1965, the jungle myna was introduced to the country followed by the common myna in 1988, under one aspect to control cattle ticks; however, it brought great impacts to Samoa’s biodiversity.

Invasive species is one of the greatest threats to Samoa's biodiversity, it damages habitat for native plants and animals, loss of subsistence resources, economic loss especially the health of people. Invasive species could be anything that is introduced to a certain area, thus cause negative impacts to the environment as a whole.

The Jungle myna (Acridotheres fuscus) was first recorded in Upolu in 1965, followed by the Common myna (Acridotheres tristis) in 1988 (Watling, 2001). It is believed they were introduced to control livestock ticks and unexpectedly became an invasive species; over the past two decades their populations have increased dramatically. They are now found throughout Samoa with high density populations concentrated in the Apia town area and neighboring villages

Flyer for the awareness of the water-lettuce as an invasive plant.

Flyer in Samoan & English on the water lettuce, latisi vai as an invasive plant.