Where the New Zealand Possum Fur Story Began

Cloaked in ancient rain forest, isolated and uninhabited for millions of years, New Zealand evolved knowing only the unique sounds of its insects and bird life . . . then 150 years ago, to create a fur industry, the Australian brushtail possum was introduced. The possums quickly adapted and thrived in this lush predator-free environment - but of all the introduced mammals, the possum is the most destructive environmentally, biologically and economically. Selectively browsing plant species, preying on bird nests and posing real problems for fruit and crop farmers, the now 70 million possums have decimated huge tracts of native forests, eating 21,000 tons of vegetation nightly.