Palmerston Island is one of the most isolated of the 15 islands that make up Cook Islands, better known for its picture-perfect white sandy beaches and pristine natural environment.
But the island's residents are having to put up with tiny rodents that they say have become a "nuisance".
"Rats are a problem on Home Island (the islet that is occupied by people)," Palmerston's executive officer Arthur Neale said.
"They have been a nuisance. They damage our crops, coconuts, fruit trees. So you're always battling the rats."
