Help needed to unravel wallaby mystery

The discovery of a dead wallaby on the side of the Hokonui School Road has left Environment Southland biosecurity officers with a mystery to unravel.

Senior biosecurity officer Dave Burgess said the wallaby was reported by a member of the public last Friday and staff believe it has most likely fallen from a vehicle after being hunted further north.

“However, we would really appreciate it if anybody missing a dead wallaby could let us know so we can be sure that is where it has come from.

“We are not worried if this wallaby was already dead when it got here, but we just want to be sure that these pests aren’t bouncing into our region.”

Wallabies are a pest animal under Southland’s current Regional Pest Management Strategy and haven’t been identified in Southland, but are causing significant problems in South Canterbury.

Mr Burgess said wallabies cause damage to native forests and compete with cattle and sheep for pasture. They are capable of reaching very high population numbers.

Anybody who knows where the dead wallaby may have come from can contact Environment Southland on 0800 76 88 45.

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