Squirrels Away
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday February 16, 1990
SIR: We have legislation designed to protect our native fauna by licensing those who can keep or sell it. Yet, it seems, we have no such strictures on foreign species.
It is possible for any member of the public to buy Indian palm squirrels as pets, singly or in breeding pairs, from petshops. The only requirement is that the buyer be able to afford $500 for males and $1,000 for females. How the petshops get hold of the squirrels in the first place seems to have little or no regulation either.
Squirrels are cute, intelligent and extremely adaptable. They will also eat anything from parrot seed (most of the grains grown commercially in Australia)to fruit, bread and even dog kibble. In England, the American grey squirrel has wiped out the indigenous squirrel.
Should a breeding pair, or several, escape from pet owners, who may not be educated to the animals' peculiarities or have particularly secure facilities, it is possible a similar disaster could occur here.
Who knows what native species we would lose.
Felicity Bremner,
Longleat Road,
February 10 Kurmond.
© 1990 Sydney Morning Herald