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The animals of New Zealand have a particularly interesting history because, before the arrival of humans, probably less than 1,300 years ago, the country was completely free of mammals, except those that could swim there (seals, sea lions, and, off-shore, whales) or fly there (bats). This meant that all the ecological niches occupied by mammals elsewhere were occupied by either insects or birds, leading to an unusually large number of flightless birds, including the Kiwi, the Moa, and the Kakapo. There are also about 60 species of lizard (30 each of gecko and skink).
Humans first arrived via the Pacific islands, bringing with them the Polynesian Rat (Kiore) and the domesticated dog. Europeans later brought pigs, ferrets, stoats, mice, rats, dogs, cats, sheep, cattle, and many other mammals. Of these, the rats, ferrets, cats, stoats and dogs have all seriously impacted on the bird and lizard life, driving many to extinction. Possums were introduced from Australia and deer from Europe as game animals, both seriously damaging the forest habitat of many birds.
In recent years, efforts have been made to remove possums, rats, ferrets, and other mammals from many offshore islands, large and small, in an effort to return these places to something more closely resembling their original state. An estimated 30 tons of dead possums were removed from Kapiti Island, for example. Similarly, efforts are being made to control such species in selected locations on the mainland, such as the Karori wildlife reserve in Wellington City, from which about a ton of dead possums was removed after the installation of a mammal-proof fence.
See also
External links - Native animals of New Zealand (http://www.doc.govt.nz/Conservation/001~Plants-and-Animals/001~Native-Animals/index.asp) - Department of Conservation.
- Animals of New Zealand (http://www.enchantedlearning.com/coloring/Newzealand.shtml) - Childrens learning aid.
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