An investigation is underway in Southland, New Zealand, after a possible wallaby was spotted near Te Anau this week.
While a detector dog picked up signs of the animal, experts have not confirmed an actual sighting, according to Environment Southland.
Wallabies are considered a serious pest in the area, and there are no known populations in Southland. Ali Meade, from Environment Southland, emphasised that the community should avoid searching for the wallabies themselves, as it could disrupt efforts to control them. Wallabies are harmful because they eat grass, native plants, and trees, which can damage the environment and farms.
This year alone, there have been two wallaby sightings near Te Anau, but none were confirmed. Since 2015, there have been 19 reported sightings in Southland, though only one wallaby was caught, in Invercargill, back in 2016. Environment Southland is continuing its efforts to monitor the situation and urges locals to report any future sightings.
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