Mammals of New Zealand

Mammals of New Zealand
Hector's dolphins at Porpoise Bay, in the Catlins.

Prior to human settlement, the mammals of New Zealand consisted of just three species of bat, and a large number of marine mammal species.

The Māori brought the kurī and kiore in about 1250 CE,[1] and European visitors form 1769 onwards brought the pig, mice, two extra species of rats, weasels stoats, ferrets and possums and many other introduced species, many of which are causing huge conservation problems for many indigenous species, including the mammals.

Contents

Indigenous species

Conservation status

The Department of Conservation rank priorities for conservation with the New Zealand Threat Classification System.

Introduced species

Māori introduced two species kurī (dog) and the kiore (Polynesian rat) and European settlers introduced many other mammal species.

Mammals introduced by Europeans
Species Date of introduction[2] Notes
Black rat
Cat as early as 1820
Chamois
Common Brushtail Possum 1837
Elk (Wapiti)
Fallow Deer 1864
Ferret 1879 Introduced in an unsuccessful attempt to control rabbits
Goat late 1700s
Hare 1851
Hedgehog 1870
Himalayan thar
Mice
Moose 1900, 1910 The last reliable sighting was in 1952
Norway rat 1800s
Pigs 1773, 1777
Rabbit 1838 A major pest
Red Deer from 1851
Sambar Deer 1875-76
Stoat
Wallaby
Weasel
White-tailed deer

Agricultural animals such as cattle and sheep were also introduced, as well as alpacas and llamas.

See also

References

  1. ^ Lowe, David J. (November 2008). "Polynesian settlement of New Zealand and the impacts of volcanism on early Maori society: an update.". Guidebook for Pre-conference North Island Field Trip A1 ‘Ashes and Issues’: 142. ISBN 9780473144760. http://researchcommons.waikato.ac.nz/bitstream/10289/2690/1/Lowe%202008%20Polynesian%20settlement%20guidebook.pdf. Retrieved 2010-01-18. 
  2. ^ King, Carolyn M. (1985). Immigrant Killers: Introduced Predators and the Conservation of Birds in New Zealand. Auckland: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195581157. 

Further reading

  • King, Carolyn M. (1995). The Handbook of New Zealand Mammals. Oxford University Press, USA. ISBN 0195583205. 

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