STRANGERS IN PARADISE
THE BRUSHTAIL POSSUM WAS INTRODUCED TO
NEW ZEALAND IN 1837 IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH
A FUR INDUSTRY.
GOING THROUGH VARIOUS LEVELS OF PROTECTION,
AND HAVING NO NATURAL PREDATORS HERE,
THEY WERE ALLOWED TO PROLIFERATE WITHOUT CHECK
ALL OVER NEW ZEALAND
IT WASN’T UNTIL THE 1940S THAT IT WAS FIRST NOTICED
THEY HAD BECOME A DANGER TO FORESTS AND ORCHARDS.
TODAY THE POSSUM IS A SERIOUS THREAT
TO NEW ZEALANDS FLORA AND FAUNA, HAVING
DECIMATED MANY NATIVE TREES, PLANTS AND BIRDLIFE.
THEIR ESTIMATED NUMBER TODAY IS 70 MILLION.
THEY ARE NOW DECLARED A PEST IN NEW ZEALAND.
QUALITY FUR AND LEATHER
THE POSSUM FUR IS SOFT, DENSE AND LIGHT
IT IS ANTISTATIC AND DOES NOT TAKE ON ODOURS.
THE HAIR HAS A HOLLOW SHAFT, HENCE
IT RETAINS WARMTH EVEN WHEN WET OR FROZEN.
ONLY REINDEER AND POLAR BEAR SHARE THIS UNIQUE TREAT.
THE FINE, SOFT POSSUM LEATHER IS REMARKABLY
TOUGH AND LONG LASTING.