The mention of paihamu/brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula; herein possum(s)) in Aotearoa New Zealand can often elicit a visceral, negative response from those who consider possums as colonising invaders of the perfect Kiwi ‘island paradise’ (Gross, 2013). The brushtail possum, a furry, nocturnal marsupial introduced from its native Australia to New Zealand in 1858, was translocated by British settlers to establish a lucrative possum fur trade (Druett, 1983; Potts, 2013). The decision to introduce foreign species to New Zealand, without an awareness of what would result from this, was just the beginning of decades of disaster for native species and those deemed not to belong.

This Critical Animal Studies research employed qualitative thematic analysis to explore alternative perspectives of conservation and attitudes towards possums as ‘pests’. Twenty-five participants, who identified they held ‘fringe’ perspectives around this topic, came from Māori, Moriori, Pākehā, and tauiwi backgrounds. They were animal advocates, possum carers, environmental scientists, academics, and/or teachers or medical professionals. They discussed their ideas about possums, ‘pest’ control, and the potential for compassionate conservation. Four overarching solutions were theorised, including the reframing of education through ‘actually-humane’ conservation education, the pursuit of alternative control methods, support of decolonial principles, and the reframing of general concepts around ‘nature’.

The culmination of this research is simple: we should make more compassionate and empathetic choices regarding the treatment of possums in Aotearoa New Zealand. We must evolve conservation education by moving towards a direction that respects and values all life. We need to allow for more complexity and recognise that there are alternative ways forward that can benefit not only possums and reduce their suffering but also other species of animals, native and introduced, as well as humans. It is not a matter of if; it is a matter of when.