New Zealand did not use to have possums until the 19th century. The Common Brushtail Possum was introduced in this country by European settlers from the desire of establishing a fur industry. This species is protected by regulations in Australia since it is a national species but in New Zealand is considered a pest and numerous measures are taken as to reduce the constantly increasing numbers of the Common Brushtail Possum. Keep on reading and you will find out what is this type of possum and why is it such a big problem for the New Zealand government when in Australia it seems to be doing just fine.
The New Zealand Possum or the Common Brushtail Possum got its name from the Latin Phalangista vulpine which means ‘little fox’. The New Zealand possum is a nocturnal species, partially arboreal and it is part of one of the marsupial families known as Phalangeridae. This particular possum is also the largest version of this species. New Zealand Possum is mainly a folivore, although it has been known to eat small mammals which makes it an omnivore. In Australia, this animal would mostly eat Eucalyptus leaves but never solely. Its tail is prehensile, lower underside and it is not covered in fur. The Common Brushtail Possum can be seen in four main color variations including silver gray, black, gold and brown. These animals are not liked by household owners in both Australia and New Zealand because they like fruits, leaves, vegetables and are well renowned for their kitchen raids. The main difference is that in Australia this animal is protected by law whereas in New Zealand it is not.
The New Zealand Possum has become a problem for this country soon after it was introduced. Initially, possum were brought in New Zealand as to establish a fur industry but the results were similar to an ecological disaster. Unlike in Australia, possums in New Zealand do not have a natural predator and this meant that the numbers f these animals kept on increasing until they were considered pests and numerous attempts to eradicate them have been made. It is estimated that nowadays there are only about 30 million possums in New Zealand, about half of the possum population reported in the 1980s. One of the attempts to reduce the number of possums was to come up with a possum fur industry and in the late 1990s a New Zealand fashion label started producing various clothing products made from possum fur. This attempt has created two sides, one of which is against killing the New Zealand Possum for its fur.
The government in New Zealand still considers the possum a threat to the New Zealander wildlife because of the damage they cause to trees and wildlife in general, mainly as a result of their extremely large number.