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The Otago Regional Council (ORC) has collaborated with Environment Canterbury, and the Tipu Mātoro National Wallaby Eradication Programme is embarking on a two-year research programme to explore the use of digital technology in pest control. The initiative focuses on Bennett’s wallaby, a fast-breeding pest causing damage to native ecosystems, farms, crops, and commercial forestry in Otago and South Canterbury.
The research introduces an innovative approach involving the use of ‘seeker’ wallabies equipped with digital tracking technology. Over the next 12 months, these specially monitored wallabies will be part of a hunting team’s efforts to locate and lead hunters to other wallabies. Once identified, the other wallabies will be targeted for eradication, allowing the seeker wallabies to continue their role until the entire population is controlled.
Utilising ‘seeker’ animals in pest control is not new. Nonetheless, it has successfully managed feral goat and tahr populations. However, its application to wallaby control, a species known for its moderate gregarious behaviour, presents a unique challenge that, if successful, could revolutionise efforts to eradicate wallabies in areas with low population density.
Wallabies, small or middle-sized macropods, are native to Australia and New Guinea. They have also been introduced to New Zealand, where they have established populations. In New Zealand, the Bennett’s Wallaby is found on the South Island, while the Dama Wallaby is found on the North Island.
Gavin Udy, ORC’s Project Delivery Specialist-National Programmes, highlighted the significance of the research programme in addressing the wallaby issue. The collaboration with Tipu Mātoro National Wallaby Eradication Programme aims to enhance existing detection, surveillance, and control methods while exploring innovative approaches to tackle the pest wallaby problem.
“Finding wallabies across large landscapes and difficult terrain where few are present is labour intensive. Any undetected wallabies allow small breeding populations to form, grow, and become established over time. This is why we must develop new cost-effective tools to find wallabies in these environments,” said Mr Udy.
The digital technology aspect of the research involves equipping the ‘seeker’ wallabies with advanced tracking devices, potentially incorporating GPS and other sensor technologies. These devices will enable real-time monitoring of the wallabies’ movements, aiding the hunting team in locating and mapping the distribution of wallaby populations across challenging landscapes.
The collaboration operates under permits from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and the Animal Ethics Committee of Lincoln University, with landowners granting permission to release the monitored wallabies.
The potential benefits of this digital technology-driven research extend beyond the financial investment, promising to safeguard Otago from wallaby spread and mitigate the environmental, agricultural, and biodiversity damage caused by these pests.
By combining advanced tracking technology with traditional hunting methods, the research programme aims to create a more efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable approach to managing wallaby populations, setting a precedent for innovative pest control strategies in the digital age. As wallaby sightings increase, community involvement is encouraged, emphasising the importance of reporting sightings to prevent the establishment of wallabies in Otago.
In the future, the research programme envisions a dynamic and adaptive approach to wallaby control by harnessing a digital technology framework that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics. Advanced sensors and AI algorithms could enhance the efficiency of the ‘seeker’ wallabies, allowing them to identify and track wallaby populations more accurately. This data-driven methodology can ultimately revolutionise how pest control strategies are devised and executed in New Zealand.
