Before the arrival of Europeans New Caledonia’s biggest...

Before the arrival of Europeans New Caledonia’s biggest terrestrial mammal was the flying fox (a big bat). In late 1800s deers were introduced on the island and at some point 4 females and 8 males were reliesed as hunting game. Just a few years later deers became a pest in New Caledonia. To this day the government pays a reward for stags’ horns and females’ jawbones. Deer’s meat is very popular in New Caledonia, especially “saucisson” (French salami).