Authorities are on the hunt for a dead wallaby that was spotted in Wellington on Sunday, but has since gone missing.
The carcass was found on the side of Owhiri Rd near the recreational hub Carlucci Land, and a resident notified the Department of Conservation (DoC) on-duty ranger.
"Our ranger called another local staff member to collect the animal, but when he arrived, the body was missing," a DoC spokesperson said.
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DoC is eager to recover the body of the pest, identify it, and then try to establish where it came from.
From analysing photos, DoC believes the carcass is probably that of a Dama Wallaby which has populations on Kawau Island in the Hauraki Gulf and Rotorua.
Wellington Zoo has not lost any of its wallabies over the weekend, and anyone who owned a wallaby would need to have a permit to do so, as they are deemed a pest in New Zealand.
DoC is contacting the SPCA and the Wellington City Council to see if the animal has been handed to them.
Instagram user 'cousinmosquito' posted this photo of the dead wallaby:
Anyone with information can contact the DoC Kapiti Wellington Office at (04) 470 8412.
Newshub.
