Available at Zimmerman Gallery
Who really are the pests?
Before humans arrived in New Zealand there were no large land predators or major threats to our thriving bird life here or our eco system. New Zealand was an abundant native bush paradise.
First to arrive were the Kiore (Polynesian Rats) and mice, arriving by boat with the first humans around 1280 A.D. They feasted on plants, insects, lizards, frogs and birds. They spread fast and started to have a significant impact on the ecology of New Zealand. Next to arrive also by ship in 1769, were cats. Sailors kept cats on board to control the rat population, but half a century later they had established a feral cat population on land and began to feast on New Zealand wildlife (as well as a few of those pesky Kiore too).
Before humans arrived in New Zealand there were no large land predators or major threats to our thriving bird life here or our eco system. New Zealand was an abundant native bush paradise.
First to arrive were the Kiore (Polynesian Rats) and mice, arriving by boat with the first humans around 1280 A.D. They feasted on plants, insects, lizards, frogs and birds. They spread fast and started to have a significant impact on the ecology of New Zealand. Next to arrive also by ship in 1769, were cats. Sailors kept cats on board to control the rat population, but half a century later they had established a feral cat population on land and began to feast on New Zealand wildlife (as well as a few of those pesky Kiore too).
Cat
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Hedgehog
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Mouse
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We can no longer hide behind these masks, or argue over poison. The time has come to acknowledge that we are the pests too! |
Rabbits were also common on ships, a good source of meat while out at sea and it is known that they were set free on islands as food for castaways. They were still imported to New Zealand up until the 1860s to create a domestic meat and fur trade. Rabbits took longer to establish as a pest, but once farming had helped create a suitable habitat for the rabbit to thrive, the spread and growth in numbers soon became unmanageable in as little as 20 years.
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Rabbits were also common on ships, a good source of meat while out at sea and it is known that they were set free on islands as food for castaways. They were still imported to New Zealand up until the 1860s to create a domestic meat and fur trade. Rabbits took longer to establish as a pest, but once farming had helped create a suitable habitat for the rabbit to thrive, the spread and growth in numbers soon became unmanageable in as little as 20 years.
Possums were also bought here in 1837 by some European settlers who thought it would be a good idea to establish an alternative fur trade. The first possums did not survive but they kept trying, and two decades later they succeeded. Unfortunately, these people had no idea the massive impact these furry critters would have on our environment. In 1921 the Government made it illegal to bring anymore possums to New Zealand, and they were declared a pest by 1946. There are an estimated 30 million possums across Aotearoa today.
The European settlers introduced many species of plants and animals. They had needs for working and farm animals, plants to establish crops and gardens, a desire for hunting sports and game as well as a longing to hear the sweet familiarity of bird song from home. “Since Europeans arrived, there have been 130 species of bird (33 survive), 51 of mammal (28 survive), an estimated 30 of fish (23 survive), 40 of worm, 60 of spiders and mites, 12 of slugs and snails, 1100 insects and 1700 plants introduced. A further four species of bird and one fish have become extinct, while many others are endangered and only persist in small numbers on offshore islands. A total number of extinctions of native animals other than birds or fish will never be known, but includes insects, snails, reptiles and amphibians.” (https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/topic/2849)
We can no longer hide behind these masks or argue over poison. The time has come to acknowledge that we are the pests too!
Possums were also bought here in 1837 by some European settlers who thought it would be a good idea to establish an alternative fur trade. The first possums did not survive but they kept trying, and two decades later they succeeded. Unfortunately, these people had no idea the massive impact these furry critters would have on our environment. In 1921 the Government made it illegal to bring anymore possums to New Zealand, and they were declared a pest by 1946. There are an estimated 30 million possums across Aotearoa today.
The European settlers introduced many species of plants and animals. They had needs for working and farm animals, plants to establish crops and gardens, a desire for hunting sports and game as well as a longing to hear the sweet familiarity of bird song from home. “Since Europeans arrived, there have been 130 species of bird (33 survive), 51 of mammal (28 survive), an estimated 30 of fish (23 survive), 40 of worm, 60 of spiders and mites, 12 of slugs and snails, 1100 insects and 1700 plants introduced. A further four species of bird and one fish have become extinct, while many others are endangered and only persist in small numbers on offshore islands. A total number of extinctions of native animals other than birds or fish will never be known, but includes insects, snails, reptiles and amphibians.” (https://collections.tepapa.govt.nz/topic/2849)
We can no longer hide behind these masks or argue over poison. The time has come to acknowledge that we are the pests too!
Possum
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Rat
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Stoat
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