Tristan da Cunha Ratting Day

On Friday 3rd May the gong was hit at 5.30am by the Chief Islander Ian Lavarello and Agriculture Officer Neil Swain to announce the annual Ratting Day. This traditional day held once a year, sees almost the entire community out hunting with dogs in gangs.

Soon the village was alight and everyone was busy preparing before heading out to the Potato Patches. Dogs could be heard barking, as they were anxious to get going, as it’s also an exciting day for them. The rats are caught and tails cut off and collected to be counted at the end of the day. The men are divided into 10 teams, named after an area of the patches: they are: Old Pieces, Second Watron, Below-The-Hill, Daley’s Hill, Redbody Hill, Coolers, Twitty Patch, Farm, Bills Hill and Johnny Patch

The Administrator's, doctor's Land Rover and private vehicles were used to transport women and children to the patches. At the patches the ladies prepared a lunch for the men ready for their return to the camping huts at midday.

By 6pm everyone was back to the Settlement for the exciting part of counting the tails to see which teams had won. Counting took place at the Veterinary Clinic by Chief Islander, Medical Officer, Acting Administrator Kobus Potgieter and Neil Swain.
After this was completed everyone went to get ready for the dance and prize giving which took place at the Prince Philip Hall.

Winning Teams:

Most Tails:
1st Prize - Bill’s Hill
2nd prize - Twitty Patch
3rd Prize - Below the Hill

Longest Tail:
1st Prize - Twitty Patch 276mm
2nd Prize - Below the Hill 275mm

Booby Prize: Johnny Patch

The total number of rats killed 837
which is is a good average
compared with recent years (see below)