http://ens-news.com/ens/jan2003/2003-01-14-19.asp#anchor5
Possums Released to Sabotage New Zealand Sanctuaries WELLINGTON, New Zealand, January 14, 2003 (ENS) - New Zealand's largest environmental organization, Forest and Bird, Monday released an anonymous letter claiming that 11 possums have been deliberately released onto Kapiti Island, a nature reserve and bird sanctuary inhabited by some of the world's rarest birds. In recent weeks Forest and Bird has received three anonymous letters threatening to sabotage wildlife sanctuaries by releasing pests. The letters appear to be from hunters disgruntled by Forest and Bird's campaign to protect nature from the impact of pests such as possums, deer and thar, a species of goat. One letter reads, "I have let elevin [original spelling] opossums go on Kapiti. More to follow." The letters have been given to police who are investigating the threats. Brushtailed possum in New Zealand (Photo courtesy From NZ) The brushtail possum is a small marsupial introduced to New Zealand from Australia, that is a pest because it feasts on many of New Zealand�s native plants. The possum will also prey on the eggs of birds, including the endangered kokako and other invertebrates. The possum also competes with native birds for food, and so diminishes their food supply. "Kapiti Island is a nature conservation jewel, and how people could even think of releasing possums onto it defies belief," says Eric Pyle, Forest and Bird's Conservation Manager. "I am sure that the vast majority of New Zealanders will be dismayed and saddened by claims that possums have been released onto this conservation icon," he said. "Thousands of volunteers' hours and hundreds of thousands of taxpayers' dollars have gone into ridding Kapiti Island of its pests so that such rare birds such as little spotted kiwi, saddleback and takahe can flourish." One of the letters from a group calling themselves the Biodiversity Action Group threatens to release pests in wildlife sanctuaries if Forest and Bird did not reconsider its position on thar. The group claims to have already spread thar, wallabies and fallow deer around New Zealand. "Many New Zealanders have worked hard to rid sanctuaries of pests. We are saddened that a group wants to put all that work at risk and threaten our natural heritage", says Pyle. "Clearly there is an lunatic element in the hunting fraternity that has no concern for New Zealand's natural heritage. This rogue element is even prepared to threaten kiwi, our national emblem." Forest and Bird calls on all responsible hunters to distance themselves from this kind of irresponsible behavior and sort out the lunatic fringe within their ranks. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
