The possum fur controversy

by Annie Scott (Subscribe to Annie Scott's posts)
Posted Apr 22nd 2008 at 2:28PM

Earth Day is not only a day to celebrate the Earth, but also a day to examine our own beliefs about what we think is good for the planet. By thinking and talking about our beliefs, we can help each other make mindful choices. This will mean that next year, we can have Earth Day again, and not Sad-Mass-Formerly-Known-As-Earth Day.

So. Some people think it is good for the environment to support possum fur industries. Environmentally-conscious fur? Is that an oxymoron?
Maybe not. New Zealand Possum Products, whose list of fashion links includes Yves Saint Laurent, certainly doesn't think so.

Possums are cute, but they are eating up New Zealand. It is our fault. According to wikipedia, European settlers introduced the possum to New Zealand (meaning they boldy brought possums where no possum had ever been before) in the hopes of developing a fur industry.

Naturally, some of those possums got free and now there are around 60 million of them messing with New Zealand's forests and wildlife, and spreading bovine tuberculosis (which is like bird flu for your cow). Read more about the possum problem in New Zealand here.

So, what do we do at this point? It's humankind's fault that possums are there. We can't change that now. Does that make it our responsibility to control their population?

And if we do find it kinder to kill, is it morally acceptable for us to use them to make awesome coats and bedspreads and such, or is that just turning New Zealand into a fur farm?

Discuss.

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Filed under: Accessories, Fashion, Best of the Season, Stylish Living
Tags: eco-fur, fur, new zealand, possum, possums

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READER COMMENTS

(7)Add A Comment

MacGregor, 4-22-2008, 4:18PM

Check out www.Eco-LuxuryFur.com, the attempt to bring these amazing NZ products to the US market. These are different from the American possum, are non-native and are not farmed. There are 70 million of them, they can spread TB and native species of plants and animals are at risk of extinction because of the possum. If they are not killed humanely for use in throws, pillows, etc., the gov't kills them inhumanely with 1080--a horrific poison that locals fear could enter the land and waterways. Check out www.stop1080now.com.

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Barbara, 4-22-2008, 4:27PM

Annie, how do you get so many comments and nobody else gets any!!!???? I liked your possum story with one exception -- possums are NOT cute. They have fangy teeth and a rat tail. They can be dangerous when provoked but who would want to provoke one. I hate to see any animals killed, but the possum's a good choice should it become necessary for the NZ'ers. But they have problems with the kangaroo too. Somebody needs to help them with their problems.

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Annie Scott, 4-22-2008, 5:59PM

ROTFL, ladies and gentlemen, meet my mother.
--Annie

Kristy, 4-24-2008, 11:02PM

Erm... no offense, but uhm... If they have/spread ANY kind of tuberculosis... I don't want to wear parts of their dead bodies... That would be like wearing the skins of monkey's who spread AIDS... Oo... I don't really know if I am against this per se, because they HAVE to thin the population of them for everyone (including their own) good and i guess it IS a pity that their bodies would be going to waste i guess, but gee whiz, I'm not desperate enough to find an eco-friendly way to wear something's dead carcass enough to risk getting some sort of DISEASE for it... i mean SHEEEEEESH are people seriously THAT addicted to fur?! Sure i guess it feels nice, but c'mon!

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Sylvia Raye, 5-02-2008, 10:25PM

Animals dont wear our skin so why should we wear theirs.?
The cruelty involved is a blight on us as a species. Just goes to show how uncivilised we really are.

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Patrick, 5-04-2008, 2:20AM

NZ is the highest user in the World of 1080 poison in a very long and unsuccessful attempt to wipe out the possums. Bounties, poison, and selling possum fur garments has failed to even make a dent in the possum populations. Trying to justify the use of possum fur by saying it's "environmentally friendly" is nonsense.

The only "environmentally friendly" way to reduce or eliminate possums in NZ is an effective contraceptive program. The technology is there, it just needs refining, but funds wont be put forward while some people claim possum fur garments are an environmentally friendly way to get rid of them. Which of course it is not, nor is it humane.