I did not realize that this animal is classified as a pest in New Zealand until I saw signs which indicated so while driving on the roads and highways of the South Island of the country.
This Animal Is Classified As a Pest In New Zealand.
The animal is the wallaby, which resembles a kangaroo. On the aforementioned signs were the words “Seen a wallaby? Report it”; along with a link to an official form to complete on this Internet web site.
Although they are native to Australia and New Guinea, wallabies are not native to New Zealand. Instead, several species of the marsupial were introduced to New Zealand mainly for sport and for the value of their skins…
…but they became herbivorous pests that are destroying the native forests, native plants, and farms in the country — which in turn negatively impacts forest regeneration, as they:
- Graze on pasture
- Browse on native plants
- Eat everything that is at their height in the native bush — including the seedlings that are to become future native bush
- Destroy productive farmland and forests
- Reduce biodiversity in the iconic landscapes of New Zealand
- Cost New Zealanders millions of dollars in lost farm production and the overall benefits which they get from their environment
“Five species of wallabies were introduced to New Zealand from Australia in the late 1800s”, according to this official Internet web site of the Department of Conservation of the federal government of New Zealand. “They were brought here mainly for hunting and for people who had private zoos. They do not have any natural predators in this country and have adapted well.”
Final Boarding Call
I did see a wallaby in one part of New Zealand that was timid and kept a safe distance in a wooded area — but I did not recall the aforementioned signs prior to the sighting and did not know at the time that it was classified as a pest…
…so if you happen to be in New Zealand and see a wallaby, be sure to report it.
The photographs and video of the wallaby that is featured in this article was on Bruny Island in Tasmania in Australia, which I surmise has a similar climate to that of southern New Zealand.
All photographs ©2024 by Brian Cohen.
