Wallabies are pests not pets
13 December 2012
Bay of Plenty Regional Council staff are concerned some residents may be treating Dama wallabies as pets instead of pests.
Wallabies destroy native bush by feeding on seedlings which ultimately means native birds and animals lose out on food and shelter.
Regional council land management manager for Rotorua Greg Corbett said wallabies are listed as a containment pest in the Bay of Plenty Regional Pest Management Plan which means they want to prevent the further spread of them across the region.
Residents keeping wallabies as pets may contribute to their spread as the animals have a nervous temperament and a strong drive to escape from captivity, said Mr Corbett.
Wallabies have also recently been listed as unwanted organisms in the Biosecurity Act, which means it is an offence under the Biosecurity Act to move or release them.
As far as pests go, wallabies are one of the cuter animals and it may be tempting to want one as a pet. However, the reality is they are wild pest animals which have the potential to cause significant damage to our native bush.
We are aware of a number of recent incidents of wallabies being sighted outside the area where we know they already exist. Some have even been in residential areas which is concerning as this may mean they are escaped pets, said Mr Corbett.
Control of wallabies is carried out by regional council in partnership with Department of Conservation (DOC) and Waikato Regional Council.
Wallabies in the wild are difficult to control. They cause significant damage to our native bush by feeding on native seedlings, ferns and grasses. They can also cause problems for forestry and farming by feeding on pine and eucalyptus seedlings and competing with stock for pasture.
It is simply irresponsible to keep pest animals as pets because the damage that these animals cause to the environment is costly, both environmentally and financially.
We need the community to let us know when they see pest animals like Dama Wallabies so we can help control their populations and protect our native bush, said Mr Corbett.
If you see a Dama Wallaby west of Rotorua, east of Kawerau and south of Rainbow Mountain please call 0508 WALLABY.