Overview
Wallabies were initially introduced to establish a fur trade in the 1870's and readily adapted to NZ conditions in some areas such as inland Canterbury where three red necked wallaby were released near Waimate, and the volcanic plateau in the North Island. Although they were pests for many years, intensive control efforts have reduced them to small-scattered pockets. Several species introduced to northern offshore islands in the 1870's are now rare in their original home ranges and the populations provide a 'reservoir' for the species e.g. blacktailed wallaby Wallabia unicolor, Tammar Macropus eugenii, Parma wallaby Macropus parmii.
Today live animals are exported to zoos around the world.