In Aotearoa the tahr is a pest and a threat to rare alpine plants. But this government is set to protect them, so rich, white, gun toting men can hunt them at leisure.
This is a well researched and well written essay. New Zealand is a leader in conservation. As I point out in my book “Who Put the Devil Into the Pig?” NZ is obviously confronting the hard challenges in redefining the Anthropocene more as a relationship with nature than as a geographical era. My substack is at @bertrandlaurent and I’m happy to subscribe to you.
Thank you. New Zealanders have a complicated relationship with nature. We have certainly scapegoated some of our invasive species, not that they aren't having impacts but we've sometimes framed control in unhelpful ways by demonising the invasive species. We are getting better at it though. We are trying to deal with feral cats now and that is changing the kinds of conversations we are having.
🤗 Thanks for this ... as most animal lovers know, just because a species is considered a "pest" in one environment, doesn't mean a) it isn't a beautiful &/or worthy animal in it's own right, and b) in it's natural habitat it can't be a valued and valuable part of the ecosystem. Himalayan Tahr in Aotearoa are an introduced species & hugely damaging to our alpine ecosystem, as you point out. But I've been there when the helicopter has landed with one of the magnificent specimens dead courtesy of a wealthy hunter, and felt sad that human hubris has led to them being hunted for sport in a foreign land 🥹 (while at the same time glad there is one less doing damage 🤷)
wow, what a beautiful place! Love the photos as well ❤️
Thanks Kristi. It was truly spectacular, I was lucky to get there.
In Aotearoa the tahr is a pest and a threat to rare alpine plants. But this government is set to protect them, so rich, white, gun toting men can hunt them at leisure.
It's a frustrating one, and seeing the damage they can do is awful. Our alpine vegetation is so sensitive.
This is a well researched and well written essay. New Zealand is a leader in conservation. As I point out in my book “Who Put the Devil Into the Pig?” NZ is obviously confronting the hard challenges in redefining the Anthropocene more as a relationship with nature than as a geographical era. My substack is at @bertrandlaurent and I’m happy to subscribe to you.
Thank you. New Zealanders have a complicated relationship with nature. We have certainly scapegoated some of our invasive species, not that they aren't having impacts but we've sometimes framed control in unhelpful ways by demonising the invasive species. We are getting better at it though. We are trying to deal with feral cats now and that is changing the kinds of conversations we are having.
🤗 Thanks for this ... as most animal lovers know, just because a species is considered a "pest" in one environment, doesn't mean a) it isn't a beautiful &/or worthy animal in it's own right, and b) in it's natural habitat it can't be a valued and valuable part of the ecosystem. Himalayan Tahr in Aotearoa are an introduced species & hugely damaging to our alpine ecosystem, as you point out. But I've been there when the helicopter has landed with one of the magnificent specimens dead courtesy of a wealthy hunter, and felt sad that human hubris has led to them being hunted for sport in a foreign land 🥹 (while at the same time glad there is one less doing damage 🤷)