THE THREATENED OPOSSUM.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1551, 21 September 1912, Page 4

THE THREATENED OPOSSUM.

PROTECTION URGED. Mr. L. 0. Tripp (president of the New Zealand Acclimatisation. Society) has received some interesting information from authorities in. Tasmania regarding tho necessity for a fair measuro of protection to opossums. Tho chairman of tho council of the Royal Society at Hobart says a good deal' of poaching goes on in Tasmania, and tho opossums nro not nearly so numorous as formerly. The damage to orchards by the animals is very slight. The value ■ of the skins is 20s. for the best black skins, 13s. for red or brown, and 7s. for grey. He adds: "The opossum will, I feel sure, soon disappear in, New Zealand if not protected." Ho encloses tho opinions of Professor Flynn, an authority on the subject. , ■ ~ Professor Flynn Bays that last year it was calculated that three-quarters of a million marsupials were killed for skins alone. Of these 100,000 were opossums. He is a strong advocate of protection, and asks what chance is there of theso animals surviving when not only tho females but their young ag well are destroyed. At present a law is. in operation in Tasmania making the current year a olose one for opossums on all Crown lands. _ Anyone illegally killing opossums is liable to a penalty of not less than £1 fllid not exceeding £2 for each animal killed. . There is, however, a proviso enabling any person to kill on hie own land for the bona-fido protection of his own crops, but the skins 60 taken shall be the property of the Crown. (By Telegraph—Press Association.)

Invercarqill, September 19. Tiho Southland Acclimatisation Society to-night resolved to urge tho Government to considerably restrict the taking ' of opossums. The society has Tcceived several letters from people who had observed tho habits of the animals, and who expressed the opinion that, .the opossums did no damage. ■'