Wallaby discovery in Hamilton prompts ‘pests are not pets’ reminder

Waikato Regional Council staff are concerned dama wallabies are being treated as pets instead of pests in Hamilton.

It follows a dama wallaby sighting in Frankton on Monday, 3 March. The body of the animal was later retrieved by Waikato Regional Council biosecurity staff. 

The wallaby was found to have an immature joey in its pouch. The initial results of an autopsy indicate the wallaby may have been fed domestic vegetables, with the results of further testing and analysis likely to take some time.

Wallabies are like possums – they destroy native bush by feeding on seedlings, ferns and grasses which ultimately means native birds and animals lose out on food and shelter. In large numbers they can also cause problems for forestry and farming by feeding on pine and eucalyptus seedlings and competing with stock for pasture.

The wallaby was in very good condition and it seems likely from an initial examination of its body, combined with the initial autopsy findings, that it had been cared for as a pet, said Waikato Regional Council senior biosecurity officer Dave Byers.

“It is simply irresponsible to keep pest animals as pets. These animals are hard to contain and the damage they can cause is costly, both environmentally and financially,” said Mr Byers.

Because the wallaby was carrying a joey, there were concerns other wallaby might be in captivity at a private residence in the area, he said. As a result, biosecurity officers had canvassed the Frankton neighbourhood asking residents to report wallaby sightings.

Wallabies are classified as an unwanted organism under the Biosecurity Act and possession of any live wallaby is an offence, unless an exemption is granted. Generally, exemptions will only be considered for petting zoos or wildlife parks that meet certain stringent criteria.

“Waikato Regional Council is very unlikely to grant an exemption to the rules for people wanting to keep wallabies as pets.

“Furthermore, if people are caught knowingly flouting these rules, they could face hefty fines or imprisonment,” said Mr Byers.

Breaching the Biosecurity Act can result in fines ranging from $5000 to $100,000, and in some cases imprisonment not exceeding five years.

Waikato Regional Council is working hard to control any outlier populations and prevent their further spread from the Bay of Plenty, and illegal movement of animals has the potential to jeopardise these efforts.

Mr Byers said wallabies can be difficult to control, so the council work closely with Bay of Plenty Regional Council, iwi, the Department of Conservation, Toitū te Whenua – Land Information New Zealand and Biosecurity New Zealand (MPI) as part of the Tipu Mātoro National Wallaby Eradication Programme.

He urged the community to contact the council if they see dama wallabies so populations can be controlled and native bush protected. 

Any wallaby seen should be reported via the online form at reportwallaby.nz. 

For pest control advice please call the regional council on 0800 800 401 and ask to speak to a biosecurity officer or visit the website for more information: waikatoregion.govt.nz/wallaby.