A Tasmanian man is being investigated over the importation of a fox carcass from Victoria, after a government department was able to prove that a carcass found near Launceston last month was a hoax.
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The dead animal was found on the side of the Frankford Highway, about 30 kilometres south-west of Exeter, on October 30.
The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment confirmed on Friday the find was not legitimate, following testing by the University of Canberra in recent weeks.
“An investigation by DPIPWE, assisted by Tasmania Police, has found that the fox carcass was brought in to the state from Victoria,” a statement read.
“A Tasmanian man has been interviewed as part of the investigation. As the legal process is continuing, no further comment will be made in relation to this.”
The investigation into the incident was conducted by Biosecurity Tasmania.
Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff thanked the public for their help during the investigation.
The discovery was the first of its kind in Tasmania in more than 10 years.
The carcass joins a list of fox hoaxes that have been reported in the state in the last 16 years.
In 2001, a photo of a fox carcass being held by two people underneath a road sign at Longford was sent to The Examiner.
The animal in the photo was deemed to be a hoax.
Earlier this month, a recording of a fox, reportedly filmed in the state’s North-West, was found to have been recorded in Victoria.