THOUSANDS of black killer rats have taken over the tourist hotspot of Lord Howe Island, forcing the federal and state governments to embark on a $9 million aerial bombing program to save the island's rare wildlife.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal the drastic action was agreed to after scientists warned authorities that the native plants and animals on the World Heritage-listed island were becoming extinct.

The island community is also worried about the impacts the rats are having on the lucrative Kentia Palm industry, which provides crucial income to the island.

Dubbed "the last paradise" by locals, the rats have gradually taken over the island, with scientists estimating the rat population to be about 130,000 -- or about 370 rats for each human Lord Howe Island resident.

Under the plan, poisoned baits will be dropped from the sky over 100 consecutive days. Special "arks" will be built to house endangered animals on the island as the aerial assault gets underway.

Situated about 600km east of Port Macquarie, the Lord Howe Island Board regards the island ecosystem as so sensitive that it only allows in 400 tourists at any one time.

Aerial bombing has long been regarded as controversial, with many islanders concerned about the impacts it will have on native species as well as household pets.

However, federal Environment Minister Tony Burke said the rats were already devastating the island's wildlife.

The rats have wreaked havoc on the island due to their indiscriminate diet, with the NSW government's Scientific Committee noting the species had a "generalist diet".

The committee was so concerned at the impact the rats were having on native wildlife by competing for food that it listed the species as a "key threatening process", legally forcing authorities to act.

The rats eat everything from seeds, insects and plants to fungi, vertebrates and eggs. They have been blamed for already pushing 30 species to extinction.

The rats pose an ongoing threat to at least 13 bird species, including the endangered Lord Howe woodhen and Lord Howe pied currawong.

"The NSW government and the Commonwealth are each putting up $4.5m to save the animal and plant species clinging to life on this magnificent island," Mr Burke said.

NSW Environment Minister Robyn Parker said meetings would be held with locals before the program began.

Originally published as Bombs to fight the killer rats