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To: snarks_when_bored

On another subject (not evolution):

Doesn't Australia have a long history of bringing in outside species to "solve problems", and then the outsiders themselves end up becoming a new problem?


13 posted on 12/12/2004 3:49:48 AM PST by samtheman
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To: samtheman

Yep.
http://rubens.anu.edu.au/student.projects/rabbits/wildanim.html

There are now many animals living in Australia that have been deliberately introduced to the wild. Some came by accident, others were escapees from aviaries, aquaria and zoos. They were introduced for a number of reasons that now may sound quaint or impractical. It is a good history lesson to examine past introductions so that the same mistakes are not repeated in the future.

When populations of domestic animals such as livestock or household pets become established in the wild they are called feral animals. These include the feral cats, feral pigs, the hare, feral goats, and feral horse or brumby. However, the introduced species that did not originate from domestic livestock are referred to as exotics, exotic wild animals or introduced wild animals. Here are some reasons why these wild animals from other countries were introduced into Australia and just a few example of the species involved:

Biological control - cane toad, English starling, sparrow, mosquitofish

Sport hunting - rabbit, fox, deer

Fishing - trout, carp

Practical use - ostrich, camel, buffalo

Ornamental - blackbird, song thrush

Accidental - two species of rat, house mouse, European wasp, cattle tick

Escapees - Indian Palm squirrel, goldfinch.




I believe one of the worst is the rabbit.


17 posted on 12/12/2004 6:16:45 AM PST by visualops (It's easier to build a child than repair an adult.)
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To: samtheman

Yeh, it started with the English.


42 posted on 12/12/2004 2:49:41 PM PST by furball4paws ("These are Microbes."... "You have crobes?" BC)
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