Investigation into discovery of fox carcass on roadside in state’s North

IS this the evidence that will confirm the existence of foxes in Tasmania?

The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment is investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a fox carcass on a roadside in the state’s North on Sunday. Picture: SUPPLIED

IS this the evidence that will confirm the existence of foxes in Tasmania?

The State Government has launched an investigation into “all the circumstances” surrounding a fox carcass that has turned up on a roadside in Northern Tasmania.

The dead fox was reported to the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment on Sunday.

DPIPWE Biosecurity Tasmania general manager Lloyd Klumpp said the carcass was reported by a member of the public through the department’s Invasive Species Hotline.

The carcass found by Frankford Rd.

“A Biosecurity Tasmania officer has followed up the report and when they attended the reported location a fox carcass was located,” Dr Klumpp said.

“Following its detection, the scene has been photographed and the carcass was taken to our Mt Pleasant laboratories for a necropsy to be undertaken by the senior veterinary pathologist.”

Dr Klumpp said it was not yet possible to draw any conclusions on the history of the animal.

“Much more investigation is required to see if any information can be identified that helps with understanding how it came to be at this location, including the possibility that it was dead prior to being at this site,” he said.

“Until we have the full results of veterinary examination and further investigation is completed, it is not possible to speculate in any way on the history of the carcass.”

The find follows claims of a fresh sighting in Northern Tasmania earlier this month.

Allegations of faked evidence to prove the existence of foxes in Tasmania have plagued DPIPWE and the former Fox Taskforce.

Windermere MLC Ivan Dean had asked police to investigate whether evidence has been faked.

Police found no criminal offence and Mr Dean has now taken the matter to the Integrity Commission.

Originally published as Investigation into discovery of fox carcass on roadside in state’s North