Media Release

Wallaby control programme for Mt Ngongotaha
For immediate release: 12 May 2009

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Environment Bay of Plenty and the Department of Conservation, together with Environment Waikato, are working together to reduce the number of wallabies on Mount Ngongotaha - the Dama wallaby that is, not our trans-Tasman rugby foes.

Cute as they may be, wallabies are a pest and are a threat to our native forests because they feed on native vegetation. Wallabies are included in Environment Bay of Plenty’s Regional Pest Management Strategy as an eradication pest animal and also come under the Wild Animal Control Act.

Department of Conservation Area Manager Nicki Douglas said the wallaby infestation on Mount Ngonotaha is believed to be the biggest known isolated population in the region.

“Mount Ngongotaha is a high diversity site and it is important that we control the number of wallabies on the mountain. We are talking to landowners and farmers in the area to discuss the proposed operation,” Ms Douglas said.

The control operation would use 370 bait stations with a cyanide-based pesticide called Feratox® on the mountain from June 2009.

“We have taken on board the public’s feedback on the use of 1080 poison and have done trials using Feratox®, which have proved to be a very effective and humane way of controlling wallabies. With the support of the community, we now wish to use Feratox® on Mount Ngongotaha to control the wallabies,” she said.

Feratox® is an effective alternative to 1080 and is used in Tasmania, Australia for control of possums and wallabies. Feratox® has also been used by the Mount Ngongotaha Bush Restoration Trust to reduce possum numbers on Mt Ngongotaha.

Ms Douglas said Feratox® is an effective and safe pesticide if properly handled. However, there is a risk to humans and animals such as dogs if the bait is handled carelessly or eaten.

“Landowners and farmers in the region are advised to keep stock and dogs away from the bait
stations. Recreational users of the Mount Ngongotaha, including the Jubilee Track, are advised to keep children away from the bait stations,” she said.

To eliminate the risks, please follow these simple rules:
DO NOT handle any bait
DO NOT allow children to wander unsupervised
DO NOT bring DOGS or STOCK into this area
DO NOT take animals for feeding
If you see a wallaby in the wild, please ring 0508 WALLABY. For more information, please ring 0800 ENV BOP (368 267) or DOC on 07 348 3610.
For more information on the Dama Wallaby please go to www.envbop.govt.nz, ring 0800 ENV BOP (368 267) or visit www.doc.govt.nz

Facts about the Dama Wallaby
The Dama wallaby is one of the smallest of the wallabies. It is grey/brown in colour with a paler grey underbelly and a thin white/silver stripe which runs from under the eye to the nose. Mature animals have a patch of reddish/brown colouring at the shoulder. This is more apparent on males.

Dama wallabies were released in the Rotorua district in about 1912. By the early 1950s, dama wallabies were well established in the central Bay of Plenty. They currently occupy approximately 181,000 hectares in the central Bay of Plenty.

The first wallabies to reach New Zealand were released on Kawau Island around 1870 by Sir George Grey.

Wallabies are a major threat to our indigenous forests. They readily browse young seedlings. Favoured species include Kamahi and Mahoe with substantial grazing also on Hangehange, Pigeonwood, Manuka, Kanuka and ferns.

ENDS

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