An active investigation into the presence of wallabies is currently being conducted in the Te Anau area, after a reported sighting by a member of the public this week.

The potential sighting was below the Lake Te Anau Control Gates

Environment Southland (ES) said a contractor had identified possible wallaby scat and a detector dog found the potential presence of an animal in the area, however a wallaby had not been confirmed by a professional sighting.

ES biosecurity and biodiversity operations manager Ali Meade said wallabies were an exclusion pest in Southland, which meant they were not currently in the region.

"We want to prevent them from establishing here," she said.

"Environment Southland has received two reports of wallabies near Te Anau during 2024 and three reports on the Te Anau – Mossburn Highway since 2022."

"All reports have been made by members of the public."

"There have been 19 reports from elsewhere in Southland since 2015."

"All reports have been investigated by biosecurity officers, and one live one was found in Invercargill in 2016, no other live animals or evidence of live wallabies has been found," Meade said.

Wallabies can cause significant economic and environmental impacts as they eat grasses, native shrubs and trees. They can damage and fences, add to erosion issues and damage young tree seedlings.

The public should report all sightings to www.reportwallabies.co.nz