What does it look like?
Wallabies are small marsupial animals that look like miniature kangaroos. They are silver-grey to dark brown in colour. Wallabies live in scrub, native forest, and production forests. They prefer the edges of these habitats, where there is dense vegetation and easy access to grassy areas (e.g. paddocks). They are largely nocturnal and feed from early to late evening, staying within cover during the day.
Why is it a problem?
Wallabies are capable of causing significant environmental damage. This includes preventing the regeneration of native bush, depletion of the forest understorey, and possible impacts on water quality. They can damage tall tussock grasslands, including the inter-tussock vegetation which can become depleted with a consequent increase in bare ground and higher risk of soil erosion.
Pasture and feed crops are also grazed, particularly in situations where suitable wallaby cover is adjacent. Exotic forests can be damaged especially in their establishment stage.
Wallabies are capable of quickly establishing high populations due to their breeding cycle, becoming sexually mature at two years old and with a gestation of only 26 days. Young stay in the pouch for around nine months.
Wallabies are currently found on Kawau Island in the Auckland region, in the Rotorua Lakes area and in South Canterbury and North Otago.
Control methods
If sighted or presence is suspected, please notify us immediately via the reportwallabies.nz website. A Biosecurity Advisor will confirm presence and carry out any control work necessary.
More information
- Wallabies are part of the Tipu Mātoro National Wallaby Eradication Programme.
- This program is aimed at containing wallabies to core infestation areas and eliminating outlier populations.
- Wallabies are not known to be present in Hawke’s Bay and are listed as Exclusion pests under the Hawke’s Bay Regional Pest Management Plan 2018-2038.
Related links
Notify Council
If you think you've found this pest, please get in touch with our Biosecurity Team at biosecurity@hbrc.govt.nz or call us on 0800 108 838.
Management Programme
Exclusion Programme
To prevent the establishment of the subject, or an organism being spread by the subject, that is present in New Zealand but not yet established in an area.
Unwanted Organism
An unwanted organism is any organism that's capable of causing harm to natural or physical resources (like forests and waterways) or human health. A number of introduced pests in New Zealand are classed as unwanted.
Rules
Sections 52 and 53
Sections 52 and 53 of the Biosecurity Act 1993, which prevent the communication, release, spread, sale and propagation of pests, must be complied with.
Taxonomies
FamilyMacropodidae
TypeAnimals
GroupMammal
HabitatLand
Management ProgrammeExclusion ProgrammeUnwanted Organism
RulesSections 52 and 53
