New Zealand introduced sparrows to fight pests, then launched campaigns to kill them
In 1867, New Zealand released house sparrows with the intention of using them to control crop-damaging insects. The birds multiplied rapidly and soon became an agricultural threat themselves, feeding on grains, fruits, and crops such as wheat, barley, and maize. Authorities responded with organised culling measures, including poisoned grain, shooting, and bounty schemes for eggs and heads. The episode was part of a broader 19th-century effort to introduce European bird species for both farming utility and cultural familiarity.
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