Explanation by Moana

     The Possum Problem

                            Introducing Possums

Possums are pests that like to live in forests they are also introduced pests,
they were introduced in 1837 and the people who introduced them to
New Zealand was the British Settlers, they thought it would be a good idea to
bring possums to New Zealand because back in Australia possums were
different there.

                   How Do They Damage The Forest?

Possums damage the forest by eating the new growth leaves on the trees called
Rata and Kamahi. They also eat the native creatures, Native birds eggs and
flowers and fruit. Possums started to become a problem in the 1920s

.

                   Eating our new growth leaves

First, possums eat our new growth leaves on the Rata and Kamahi tree. If they
eat the leaves then the trees will die and there will be no oxygen, if there is no
oxygen then there are no people in the world.

                        Eating fruits and flowers

Secondly, possums eat our fruits and flowers which means there will be not
enough food for the native creatures and if they eat the middle part of the
flower which contains the seeds, they will eat the seeds all and the seeds make
fruits so that means fruits will become extinct.

                          Eating our native creatures

Thirdly, possums eat the native creatures, if they eat our native creatures, then
they will become extinct, and if they become extinct there will be no eggs, and
the birds cannot pollinate.

                                    Conclusion

In New Zealand possums population is spreading all over New Zealand and  I
want to get rid of the possums or any other pests in New Zealand so that our
world can survive and not die. As you can see below the map has shown how
fast they have spread across the country. Which means our environment
would be ruined.