An autopsy of a dead wallaby found in Waikato found it was likely being kept as a pet, prompting a warning from the council against "simply irresponsible" behaviour.
The dama wallaby was spotted in Frankton on Monday, March 3 – its body was later found by Waikato Regional Council biosecurity staff with an immature joey in its pouch.
The council said an autopsy of the animal indicated that it may have been fed domestic vegetables. The results of further testing were expected to take some time.
Waikato Regional Council senior biosecurity officer Dave Byers said it was "simply irresponsible" to keep pests like wallabies as pests.
"These animals are hard to contain, and the damage they can cause is costly, both environmentally and financially," he said.
Wallabies destroy native bush by feeding on seedlings, ferns, and grasses, depriving native birds and animals of 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 council said.
Byers said that because the wallaby was carrying a joey, there were concerns that others might be in captivity at a private residence.
Biosecurity officers have canvassed Frankton and urged locals to report wallaby sightings.
Under the Biosecurity Act, wallabies are classified as an unwanted organism, and possession of a live animal is illegal unless you have an exemption. Exemptions are normally only considered for petting zoos and wildlife parks that meet a "certain stringent criteria".
“Waikato Regional Council is very unlikely to grant an exemption to the rules for people wanting to keep wallabies as pets," Byers said.
“Furthermore, if people are caught knowingly flouting these rules, they could face hefty fines or imprisonment.”
Breaking biosecurity laws could result in fines ranging from $5000 to $100,000 or, in some cases, a maximum prison term of five years.
The council said it was "working hard" to control outlier populations and prevent the pests' spread to the Bay of Plenty.
"Illegal movement of animals has the potential to jeopardise these efforts," the council said.
Wallabies were first introduced to New Zealand from Australia in the 1800s. They were initially introduced for hunting, private zoos, and the value of their skins.
With no natural predetors their population has skyrocketed. According to the Bay of Plenty Regional Council, there were more than 1 million wallabies in the wild in New Zealand.
Three species – the Dama wallaby, the Parma wallaby, and Bennett's wallaby – are available for hunting in New Zealand.
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