Post by ShadowReine on Sept 28, 2008 20:49:47 GMT -5
The colony ships did not only carry humans.
A group of dolphins, also colonists, traveled with them. They have become an established population in Pern's seas. For a long time, contact between the two species was broken, but towards the end of the Ninth Pass, the sapience of the dolphins were rediscovered and humans began to train to work with them again.
The humans also brought livestock. Horses and cows both adapted well to Pern, sheep and goats less well. Pigs proved hard to raise and are seldom farmed, although the species has survived.
Birds, however, did not do at all well on the new planet. Small populations of chickens are carefully maintained in a handful of holds, ducks and geese did not survive.
There are absolutely no birds of prey on Pern. None.
Another species that did well on Pern was the loyal dog. Canines are used by the Pernese as beasts of burden, watch animals, for herding and, more rarely, kept as pets. (Many a Lady Holder has her pampered lap dog).
House cats are also sometimes kept as pets, but more often for their time-honored purpose as vermin control.
During the early years of the colony, a renegade decided to raise cheetahs as pets. These cats turned on him and escaped into the southern wilds. Having had their intelligence slightly increased by genetic engineering, the cheetahs survived, thrived and remain a problem to this day. Southern felines cannot be tamed or trained and will attack and kill humans and even take on dragons. Some southerners have taken to setting whers on the big cats, as they seem to have the greatest chance against them.
Naturally, the Pernese did not bring any rodents...Pern has enough vermin of its own.
A group of dolphins, also colonists, traveled with them. They have become an established population in Pern's seas. For a long time, contact between the two species was broken, but towards the end of the Ninth Pass, the sapience of the dolphins were rediscovered and humans began to train to work with them again.
The humans also brought livestock. Horses and cows both adapted well to Pern, sheep and goats less well. Pigs proved hard to raise and are seldom farmed, although the species has survived.
Birds, however, did not do at all well on the new planet. Small populations of chickens are carefully maintained in a handful of holds, ducks and geese did not survive.
There are absolutely no birds of prey on Pern. None.
Another species that did well on Pern was the loyal dog. Canines are used by the Pernese as beasts of burden, watch animals, for herding and, more rarely, kept as pets. (Many a Lady Holder has her pampered lap dog).
House cats are also sometimes kept as pets, but more often for their time-honored purpose as vermin control.
During the early years of the colony, a renegade decided to raise cheetahs as pets. These cats turned on him and escaped into the southern wilds. Having had their intelligence slightly increased by genetic engineering, the cheetahs survived, thrived and remain a problem to this day. Southern felines cannot be tamed or trained and will attack and kill humans and even take on dragons. Some southerners have taken to setting whers on the big cats, as they seem to have the greatest chance against them.
Naturally, the Pernese did not bring any rodents...Pern has enough vermin of its own.