Acclimatization Society
An acclimatization society is a club or organization that has set itself the goal of "enriching" the existing fauna and flora through the application of plants (so-called anointing ) or the release of animals. Acclimatization societies are primarily a phenomenon of the 19th and early 20th centuries. Your work is particularly typical of the history of Australia , New Zealand , but also North America . However, not every animal species introduced there can be traced back to the work of acclimatization societies. Many animal species - such as the wild rabbit in Australia - were introduced and released into the wild through the initiative of individuals.
Both anointing and the release of non-native (usually also native) animal species into the wild is now prohibited by law in most countries.
Motivation of the acclimatization societies
Many European repatriates felt that the habitats they had newly colonized were poor in species or missed the animals they were familiar with from home. In particular, songbirds such as sparrows , blackbirds and starlings owe their existence on the Australian and American continents to the latter wish. Against the background of inadequate knowledge of ecosystems , the desire to enrich the existing nature was regularly decisive. There was serious discussion in Australian acclimatization societies as to whether the Australian continent would benefit from the settlement of African giraffes or gazelles and which species of monkeys would make the local flora more alive. Such projects did not come to fruition; however, other projects such as the settlement of all the bird species mentioned by William Shakespeare were seriously pursued. Sometimes economic interests were also pursued in a targeted manner. The release of deer , for example, should ensure sufficiently attractive game. This is the case, for example, for New Zealand acclimatization societies, which introduced trout, salmon, European game birds and, above all, red deer with the express aim of promoting hunting tourism.
The extremely negative experiences with invasive neozoa that Australia and New Zealand have had with naturalized animal species such as wild rabbits and red deer, but also animal species such as the water buffalo , have led to very strict legislation in these countries. Discussions, some of which are being held in other countries, show, however, that the ideas of the acclimatization societies still exist.
literature
- David Yerex: Deer - The New Zealand Story . Canterbury University Press, Christchurch 2001, ISBN 1-877257-10-9
Single receipts
- ^ Yerex, p. 17