But unless the population of wild TB-infected possums can be destroyed or drastically reduced, the cattle and deer industries face a permanent source of infection, says the Animal Health Board. A government programme aims at ultimate control of the possum, if not its elimination. These range from better and less controversial traps and poisons, to genetic engineering and identification of disease organisms or vaccines that might wipe out the pests or hinder their breeding. The government has even hired Australian researchers to help find a genetic solution. But so far there has been no major breakthrough.
Some groups now say the possums can only be controlled if they are commercialised once again.
And some entrepreneurs have already begun turning them into profitable merchandise. Possum fur is being blended with Merino wool to make yarn highly prized by overseas garment manufacturers. Possum leather turned into golf and sailing gloves and even bikinis have found a lucrative market in the United States. Possum meat, promoted as Kiwi Bear, is finding a niche on Asian dinner tables. And some promoters believe that if enough gourmets in China could be persuaded to eat possum goulash, New Zealand s troubles would be over.