Britain's natural fauna is somewhat scanty (so is its native flora).
Large numbers of species have been introduced, possibly since Roman
times, certainly since the Normans. Mainly so that the upper classes
could say "It's a nice day, let's go out and kill something."
Deliberate introductions I can think of, off the top of my head,
without looking things up, include Fallow Deer, Muntjac, Rabbits,
Common Pheasant (many subspecies brought from all Asia between the
Caucasus and China), Red-legged Partridge and the Capercailzie (an 18th
Century re-introduction after it became extinct in Scotland). Even the
edible or Roman Snail. (Of course there are many more). Meanwhile many
species became extinct - Wolf, Bear, Wild Boar, and Reindeer, plus many
other creatures (habitat destruction and sporting gentry).
I don't believe myself that the House Sparrow and the much more
recent Collared Dove, which both followed agricultural development, can
be viewed as 'feral' in the strict sense. (The Latin word 'fera' just
means 'wild beast', hence the legal statement that the cat is an animal
which is 'ferae naturae', ie 'wild by nature', because it is very hard
to control). 'Feral' to me means something 'let loose' or 'escaped'.
Brumbies and mustangs are feral horses; if there were still any
Przhevalski's Horses left in Mongolia, they would be truly wild.
Ornamental wildfowl found running or flying loose in Britain include
American Wood Duck, Mandarin Duck, Egyptian Goose, Ruddy Shelduck and of
course the much spoken of canada goose - which originally came to St.
James Park as a present to Charles II. The Russsian Ambassador gave him
some Pelicans - descendants still present - and I suppose if he had had
more than a single Cassowary (via Batavia I suppose) it might also have
established itself as a breeding species. (Yes, rather unlikely, but you
never know!) Many cage escapees such as the Indian Ringed Parakeet are
also there. All these creatures were considered to be 'enriching the
fauna' if they could esatblish themselves in the wild.
Sir Peter Scott started breeding the American stifftail, the Ruddy
Duck, at Slimbridge. His staff intended to pinion the ducklings as soon
as they hatched so they could not escape - but they were able to move
much faster and sooner than was imagined possible. Full-winged Ruddy
Duck soon appeared all over England, than made it to the Continent,
where they out-compete their much rarer and endangered congener the
White-headed Duck It just shows that you cannot be too careful.
So many animals have been introduced worldwide with good intentions
- let us be grateful that the RAOU spoke up very strongly against those
who in the early 1900s wanted to 'control' the Rabbits by releasing
Weasels, Stoats and Mongooses. So those four Canada Geese in NSW
should be rounded up. On the other hand self-introduced wanderers such
as the Grey-headed Lapwing and the Ballina SIPO can be left alone.
Sorry if this is so much rabbiting on!
Anthea Fleming
in Ivanhoe, Vic,
surrounded by Blackbirds, Indian Mynahs, Starlings, Spotted Doves
(Thakyou, Acclimatization Society!) plus Pied Currawongs, Rainbow
Lorikeets and the odd Crested Pigeon, which came by 'normal extension of
range' over the last 12 to 15 years or so.
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