I have read with great interest the many responses in the thread that started off re. elephants and has branched off into many different subjects .
I dont know if Patrick has been to NZ , but he is certainly correct about one thing -- the biosecurity laws are really strict in NZ ( probably the most restrictive in the world ) and these apply to zoos almost as much as it applies to ordinary people .
As we are basically still a farming country , we have many introduced animals that are thriving here , and are killing our native animals , either directly , or indirectly by overgrazing of food supplies . Many of our wildlife are unique , and exist nowhere else in the world . Bush tailed possums are the biggest culprit that I can currently think of -- you have to have a permit to keep any live possums , and no one will be charged with killing any ... !!
There are NO snakes in NZ ( even zoos are prohibited to display a single speciman of any species , even if it is only one male grass snake ) Any that are discovered ( in cargo etc ) are destroyed by Ministery of Agriculture first , and identified later .
Bo Derek was hoping to star in a film that was going to be produced in NZ , but was denied entry into NZ because she insisted in wanting to bring in a solo boa contrictor . We dont know if she tried to smuggle the snake in -- the fact that there was such a potential threat of her doing so was enough for border control to deny her entry .
Some NZ unique wildlife include ;
Kiwi - the native bird . San Diego Zoo is the only one outside NZ that displays kiwis . About the size of a large hen , with a beak about a foot long , with nostrils on the end of it . It pokes its beak into soil , trying to locate worms and grubs to eat . It doesnt fly , but runs very fast through the undergrowth . Being nocturnal , it is very hard to see in the wild ( I have heard them in the wild , but not seen them there )
It has a "bad temper" ( like koalas ) and attacks with strong legs with sharp claws . Its eggs are about one third the size of the female bird !
Kea -- this parrot prefers to live above the snowline on the Southern Alps , which would be a real illogical place for a parrot to choose to live !! It is an incredibly intelligent bird that has an insatiable curiosity . They have no fear of humans , but close encounters would not be advised ; they have incredibly strong , pointed , and sharp beaks . They are real clowns which have to explore everything , and this usually means demolishing the object that they are exploring ( that would include things like motorbikes , given half the chance ) They are experts at being able to break into locked cars , and they seem to supplement their diet with windscreen wipers ! They are not aggressive , but it has the capability to amputate your bottom jaw -- fingers are no problem !!
Kauri snail ; large black snails , about 3 inches wide . Most snails are herbivorous , this species is carnivorous . Its diet is worms or grubs .
Giant weta ; The worlds heaviest insect ( and one of the more ugly ones ) Wetas are related to the Australian king crickets , but are alot uglier , and are covered in spikes , and have huge snapping mandibles . The giant weta weigh about the same as 2 mice . Not agressive , but wont hesitate to bite , and stick their spikes into you
Tuatara ; Whoever said that the dinosaurs have died out has never been to NZ . We have the last remaining dinosaur . It looks a bit like an Australian water dragon , up to about a foot long , which seems to be covered in bulletproof metal plating . In reality the skin is very soft . Despite its appearance , it is NOT a lizard . But it is usually grouped with lizards etc for convenience sake . These are very rare
Morepork ; a small owl ( no bigger than 6 inches ) with a big mouth !
On a still night you can hear them up to 2 miles away . Their call is very similar to their name . MORE PORK !! MORE PORK !! MORE PORK !!
According to an ornithologist , it will probably accept this morsel if it were offered , but would prefer small mice , lizards etc
I dont know if Patrick has been to NZ , but he is certainly correct about one thing -- the biosecurity laws are really strict in NZ ( probably the most restrictive in the world ) and these apply to zoos almost as much as it applies to ordinary people .
As we are basically still a farming country , we have many introduced animals that are thriving here , and are killing our native animals , either directly , or indirectly by overgrazing of food supplies . Many of our wildlife are unique , and exist nowhere else in the world . Bush tailed possums are the biggest culprit that I can currently think of -- you have to have a permit to keep any live possums , and no one will be charged with killing any ... !!
There are NO snakes in NZ ( even zoos are prohibited to display a single speciman of any species , even if it is only one male grass snake ) Any that are discovered ( in cargo etc ) are destroyed by Ministery of Agriculture first , and identified later .
Bo Derek was hoping to star in a film that was going to be produced in NZ , but was denied entry into NZ because she insisted in wanting to bring in a solo boa contrictor . We dont know if she tried to smuggle the snake in -- the fact that there was such a potential threat of her doing so was enough for border control to deny her entry .
Some NZ unique wildlife include ;
Kiwi - the native bird . San Diego Zoo is the only one outside NZ that displays kiwis . About the size of a large hen , with a beak about a foot long , with nostrils on the end of it . It pokes its beak into soil , trying to locate worms and grubs to eat . It doesnt fly , but runs very fast through the undergrowth . Being nocturnal , it is very hard to see in the wild ( I have heard them in the wild , but not seen them there )
It has a "bad temper" ( like koalas ) and attacks with strong legs with sharp claws . Its eggs are about one third the size of the female bird !
Kea -- this parrot prefers to live above the snowline on the Southern Alps , which would be a real illogical place for a parrot to choose to live !! It is an incredibly intelligent bird that has an insatiable curiosity . They have no fear of humans , but close encounters would not be advised ; they have incredibly strong , pointed , and sharp beaks . They are real clowns which have to explore everything , and this usually means demolishing the object that they are exploring ( that would include things like motorbikes , given half the chance ) They are experts at being able to break into locked cars , and they seem to supplement their diet with windscreen wipers ! They are not aggressive , but it has the capability to amputate your bottom jaw -- fingers are no problem !!
Kauri snail ; large black snails , about 3 inches wide . Most snails are herbivorous , this species is carnivorous . Its diet is worms or grubs .
Giant weta ; The worlds heaviest insect ( and one of the more ugly ones ) Wetas are related to the Australian king crickets , but are alot uglier , and are covered in spikes , and have huge snapping mandibles . The giant weta weigh about the same as 2 mice . Not agressive , but wont hesitate to bite , and stick their spikes into you
Tuatara ; Whoever said that the dinosaurs have died out has never been to NZ . We have the last remaining dinosaur . It looks a bit like an Australian water dragon , up to about a foot long , which seems to be covered in bulletproof metal plating . In reality the skin is very soft . Despite its appearance , it is NOT a lizard . But it is usually grouped with lizards etc for convenience sake . These are very rare
Morepork ; a small owl ( no bigger than 6 inches ) with a big mouth !
On a still night you can hear them up to 2 miles away . Their call is very similar to their name . MORE PORK !! MORE PORK !! MORE PORK !!
According to an ornithologist , it will probably accept this morsel if it were offered , but would prefer small mice , lizards etc
