Australian Western Australia opossums exposed to plant toxins in their natural environment have developed resistance to the highly toxic pesticide 1080, New Zealand Radio (RNZ) reported Monday. The findings have raised concerns that the native New Zealand opossum may also develop resistance to the pesticide, the report said.
Data show that since 1850, European colonists introduced opossum from southeast Australia to New Zealand, and the population peaked around 1980. Since then, New Zealand has begun to control the possum population, the widespread use of 1080 pesticides.
A possum living in Western Australia has a 160-fold higher tolerance to 1080 than a possum living in eastern Australia, according to researchers, New Zealand’s Morning Post reported. Many plants in the Western Australia contain high levels of natural 1080, and over time, the local opossum has developed resistance. “The misuse of 1080 pesticides could have an impact on the control of New Zealand’s possum population,” warned experts, who are launching a new research project to look for anti-toxin genes in local possums.