Interesting how New Zealand came up in 2 posts.
We have huge issues with invasive pests here. NZ has been an isolated island for millions of years, and it's thought that mosts parts have been underwater at some stage in that time. End result, a very unusual native ecosytem. Animals evolved to fill niches that they normally wouldn't. Fish are mostly marine based for at least part of their life, NO native land mammals (bats and seals or the only native) Flightless birds, carnivorus snails, alpine parrots.
First humans arrived here about 800 years ago, and of course played havoc with the ecosystem, ate some of them, introduced new animals etc.
Now since then some of the NZ critters and plants have got loose an colonised the rest of the world. Main difference is that we now have an understanding of what is going on, and see it happening. The first polynesians that arrived here in canoes bought their rats and dogs that played havoc with the native insects and lizards. Then got wiped out by the later European rats and dogs.
The first Europens really stuffed up though, thought it would be neat to bring rabbits, deer, pigs, goats and even some random furry possum from Australia. What a mess!!!
Ian
Ian
