G'Day Fella's,

I was thinking the other day, what other species of Game Animals it would have been nice to have been introduced by our wonderful Fore Fathers?

Ibex in NZ, came to mind.

Any thoughts?

Doh!
Homer

squirrels

Back when I was a boy there were squirrels running around free at Perth zoo. Don't know how many would've escaped.

As to the question, I think some African plains game would been ok up in the NT. Eland

African game would go well in Aus, Arhnemland is just like parts of Zim and Rhino, Ele, Eland would love it.

Actually Australia would be about the best place to raise rhinos.

I always got a kick out of advertisements that included native North American wildlife like beavers, marmots, squirrels and raccoons.

Many Australians I met through raccoons and the like were "just darling".

We miss Australia. My oldest calls it the big house with funny birds place, she turned 3 before we left. So at least she has a few memories.

Muntjack in NZ has been a long standing dream of mine. Great to hunt these little guys.

Clouded leopard in NZ would be awesome. Imagine them in the North Island taking Sika deer. They would keep the possum under check.

India's grey jungle fowl would be awesome too.

Australia would handle sandgrouse very well.

When I reach the Pearly Gates I'm going to ask the Good Lord why he couldn't have sprinkled a few elephants, hippos and impala around the Top End.

Here you go.
http://www.news.com.au/nationa...frfkvr-1225798038412

quote:

Originally posted by Nakihunter:
Muntjack in NZ has been a long standing dream of mine. Great to hunt these little guys.

Clouded leopard in NZ would be awesome. Imagine them in the North Island taking Sika deer. They would keep the possum under check.

India's grey jungle fowl would be awesome too.

Australia would handle sandgrouse very well.

I know quite a few Kiwis who live here in the US who won't go camping here because of the mountain lions and bears

LOL!

Interesting. I have been living here for 24 years and I have found the outdoor type Kiwis to be among the toughest people I have know.

But then you cannot compare our Western outdoor types to the mountain & bush village people in India or Africa.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:

quote:

Originally posted by Nakihunter:
Muntjack in NZ has been a long standing dream of mine. Great to hunt these little guys.

Clouded leopard in NZ would be awesome. Imagine them in the North Island taking Sika deer. They would keep the possum under check.

India's grey jungle fowl would be awesome too.

Australia would handle sandgrouse very well.

I know quite a few Kiwis who live here in the US who won't go camping here because of the mountain lions and bears

Definitely tiger, they'd do well up in Arnhem Land. Probably cause a little trouble for a few of the locals but imagine the boost it would give to the economy. A combo tiger, buffalo and croc hunt, where do I send my deposit! If I were the chief up there I'd sneak a few in and let them go.

quote:

I know quite a few Kiwis who live here in the US who won't go camping here because of the mountain lions and bears

I know a number of Kiwis who wouldn't hesitate to go camping in the USA, even with Mountain Lions & Bears. Well, Black Bears, possibly not Grizzly. All the cool wildlife is at least half the attraction. Personally have done a little camping in Idaho and BC. Only good experiences and would do it again.

I believe one thing limiting certain introduced species is that if they are mostly browsers then the eucalyptus tree leaves being poiseness(sp) would make survival difficult.

A bit of a story.

https://www.google.co.nz/searc...ch&q=Andamans%2Bdeer

India has a bunch of Islands in the Bay of Bengal - near Burma and quite close to Malaysia - Andaman & Nicobar islands. They are like other tropical islands of the region. They have some indigenous tribals.

The Jarawas are the last of the "wild" tribes on earth. They used to shoot arrows at boats coming by.

After the Tsunami in the region (2004?) there is a photo in the web of a Jarwa tribesman aiming an arrow up towards an Indian military helicopter that flew a reconnaissance flight!

The jarawas are the darkest skinned people on earth! Yes darker than any African tribe.

The main Andaman island is reasonably developed and yet quite undistrubed.

In the 1940s the India Forest department introduced chital deer to the island.

They became a pest on the crops in quick time. So the top boss of Forestry & wildlife (who was a hunter) introduced 2 leopards into the island to keep the deer under control.

The leopards did not survive or breed well. But the deer are still thriving.

Gaur and banteng in southern US
Ibex and argali in Rocky Mnts
Russian boars throughout all US
Hell, you name it

Russian boar would be a major ecological calamity!

3 litters a year & absolute carnage.

I am told that feral hogs today are a big problem in many parts of the US.

Gaur, Eland, Zebra, Cape Buffalo, Giraffe, Elephant, Kudu, Bongo in N.T.

American Bison, Alaska-Yukon Moose and European Wild Boar in QLD, NSW, VIC.

quote:

Originally posted by Nakihunter:
A bit of a story.

https://www.google.co.nz/searc...ch&q=Andamans%2Bdeer

India has a bunch of Islands in the Bay of Bengal - near Burma and quite close to Malaysia - Andaman & Nicobar islands. They are like other tropical islands of the region. They have some indigenous tribals.

The Jarawas are the last of the "wild" tribes on earth. They used to shoot arrows at boats coming by.

After the Tsunami in the region (2004?) there is a photo in the web of a Jarwa tribesman aiming an arrow up towards an Indian military helicopter that flew a reconnaissance flight!

The jarawas are the darkest skinned people on earth! Yes darker than any African tribe.

The main Andaman island is reasonably developed and yet quite undistrubed.

In the 1940s the India Forest department introduced chital deer to the island.

They became a pest on the crops in quick time. So the top boss of Forestry & wildlife (who was a hunter) introduced 2 leopards into the island to keep the deer under control.

The leopards did not survive or breed well. But the deer are still thriving.

I've heard this story before & from memory both Leopards were female, so it's not surprising they didn't breed well.

Altai Argali from Mongolia as the weather in NZ would be very conducive to their known habitat. Perhaps Russian snow sheep and or Marco polo sheep. Just dreaming!! MTG

I have always thought when driving through Northern SA, Central and Northern Australia, how much of it looks like parts of Africa.

And thought how wonderful it would be to have some African species out there as well.

And some are actually here. Including a species or two, almost no one knows exists in our outback, and I am not telling.

On another forum, it was discussed and one smart and very knowledgeable guy mentioned a number of reasons why African species would not and do not do well in the Australian environment. A possible reason a number of African species that were brought here did not do well ie health issues. This guy has a sizable number of species of different game animals and was speaking from first hand knowledge. I would need to look up the cause of the health issues again as I don't remember the actual issue (have an idea though what it was), but it did make sense.