New Zealand Mammals

11002-19806 Kuri (Canis lupus familiaris) smallish dogs that reached New Zealand from East Polynesia around 1300 AD in the colonising canoes of Polynesian settlers. After interbreeding with European dogs, they eventually become extinct around the early 1860's. They had been important to the economy of early Maori, being valued as a food item for important guests, while kuri skins were used in cloaks. Today a few last remains of kuri are held at Te Papa and at Otago Museum *

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11002-19806 Kuri (Canis lupus familiaris) smallish dogs that reached New Zealand from East Polynesia around 1300 AD in the colonising canoes of Polynesian settlers. After interbreeding with European dogs, they eventually become extinct around the early 1860's. They had been important to the economy of early Maori, being valued as a food item for important guests, while kuri skins were used in cloaks. Today a few last remains of kuri are held at Te Papa and at Otago Museum *

Kuri 19806 New Zealand mammals maori dog native polynesian wild canis lupus familiaris feral introduced mammalian pest predator