AAaaah... I knew the story about the rabbits being introduced on the Island... didn't know about most of the rest.
The part about " Max Schlemmer acquired squatter’s rights to Laysan Island in the 1880s, despite never having visited it" makes me think he was a smart guy and not the inconsequential man the rabbit story made me believe.
Cheers!
He had a complex role there. Though his actions in the long run may have done more harm than good for the island, he recognized the importance of sustainability there.
I'm Portuguese, and here we use that story of the Rabbit Island a lot as a cautionary tale, so the next time I hear it I am going to go all "I'm smarter than you" and recite the headers of this post from memory.
Hehe!
Cheers man, see you around.