Why dont pet shops sell hamsters in New Zealand?

Posted by The Pets One in Other - AustraliaMar 6th, 2009 | 3 responses

loveitlaura asked:


A worker at the pet shop said it was because hamsters are pests. But so are mice and rats so ? Why cant we have hamsters in New Zealand?

Sonia



3 Responses to “Why dont pet shops sell hamsters in New Zealand?”

  1. mandyj67 says:
    03/10/2009 at 7:08 am

    Bo

    I’m not 100% on this, it’s just a guess, but I think they’ve admitted defeat with the rats and mice. They come into countries on board ships etc, real hard to control. But look what happened with the possums, brought in for the ‘fur trade’ now they’re bloody everywhere!! I suppose they don’t want hamsters running all over the place. NZ has no natural predators, so the numbers of vermin have exploded, I think the possums have been declared a plague. Kiwis will swerve across the road to hit one, they **** them that much! If you’ve ever had a family of possums in your roof, you’ll understand. Hamsters might not be as big or weigh as much as a possum, but no one wants exotic (introduced) feral animals running all over the place. Just a guess though.

  2. redhzkingswood says:
    03/10/2009 at 3:14 pm

    Anastasia

    They are a prohibited animal as they could escape and become a pest, just like rabbits and possums.

  3. Dangerous says:
    03/10/2009 at 8:29 pm

    Mercedes

    To prevent another introduced rodent species escaping, becoming feral and further destroying our native species.

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