Opossums Liberated In N.Z. Before 1840

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30042, 29 January 1963, Page 11

Opossums Liberated In N.Z. Before 1840

Opossums had been liberated in New Zealand even before Captain Hobson sailed into the Bay of Islands in January, 1840, says Mr L. T. Pracy, in a paper on the introduction and liberation of the opossum, published by the New Zealand Forest Service.

The idea of establishing a fur trade in New Zealand "took on” early in the first days of trading by Europeans, says Mr Pracy. Captain J. Howell was known to have liberated black opossums fi-om Tasmania at Riverton in the years between 1837 and 1840—“ but it could well be that 'the initial importations were very much earlier than that.” he says. Importations of opossums to New Zealand continued spasmodically right up until the 1920*5. says Mr Pracy, but by far the greater factor in their spread was the dispersal of the animals within the country- both legal and illegal. A feature of Mr Pracy’s 28page paper is a map showing the known liberation points of opossums, totalling about 350, and extending from Kerikeri, in the Bay of Islands, to Stewart Island. The outlying islands did no escape, either, liberations being made at Kawau Island, Kapiti, the Chathams, and th< Aucxland Islands. The dry areas of Central Otago, and parts of Marlborough, were probably the only places to which opossums were not taken, Mr Pracy says. "Astounding” Finding The opossum-importation movement gained momentum just before the beginning of this century, and reached its peak in the 1920'5, says Mr Pracy. By then, the wisdom of their introduction was. being widely debated, and Professor b B. Kirk was asked, through the New Zealand Institute, to undertake a comprehensive investigation.

“He came down with a statement, which, in the light of present-day knowledge and research, is quite astounding," says Mr Pracy. “I' said that 'the damage to the Few Zealand forests is negligible, and is far outweighed by the advantages that already accrue to the community.’

“However, in spite of Pro-

fessor Kirk’s recommendations, the Department of Internal Abairs took a firm stand, and from 1922 on refused permission to liberate ofossums,” Mr Pracy says. “These refusals must have caused some antagonism, for in 1928 the Hawke's Bay ‘Herald’ reported that a speaker at an acclimatisation society meeting claimed that opossums should be released ‘by fair means or foul* in a certain part of the Ruahine ranges.” Licences For Trapping Right up until 1947, one had still to have a licence to trcp opossums, says Mr Pracy. In that year, amendments to the regulations cancelled all restriction on the taking of opossums, and made harbouring and liberation of them subject to heavy penalties. Poisoning was legalised for certain areas. Mr Pracy gives extensive tables of importations of opossums from Australia and Tasmania, and of liberations within New Zealand from local stock. These show that the first liberation in Canterbury was on Banks Peninsula in 1865, by the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, 42 opossums of mixed colours being set free. The next recorded liberation in Canterbury was not until 1890, when '*2 black opossums were set free at Whitecliffs, four in North Canterbury, by

the Canterbury Acclimatisation Society, and unrecorded number of blacks at Geraldine by the South Canterbury Acclimatisatio Society. Liberations continued in Canterbury during the early 1900’s, and in 1910, 1913, 1914, and 1917. There were two liberations by the Ashburton Acclimatisation Society in 1922 —at Lake Heron and at Alford Forest, the number not being specified. Liberations were made at Mount Algidus in 1931 and 1932. Liberation In 1950

There were no more recorded liberations, says Mr Pracy. until 1945, when some greys were set free at Manuka Point (the scene of the first liberation of deer in Canterbury) by T. Carmichael. Some blacks were liberated at the Hermitage. Mount Cook, in 1950 by an unknown agent. As r. cently as September last, opossums were described as increasing enormously in the Arthur’s Pass National Park, and the damage they were doing to the bush was described as devastating, especially in the Taramakau block. In July. 1960, when the bounty system was operating, one private trapper in this area had poisoned 2557 in 15 days. On one occasion, 50 dead opossums were grouped around one bait. With the abolition of the bounty system, and the consequent increase of opossums, the Arthur’s Pass National Park Board was forced last y- r to begin poisoning operations.