The wombat apparently bit a child in late November, with the Weymouth Progress Association expressing frustration and concern on social media at the time.

Residents shared their experiences of being attacked by the wombat, from teenagers to elderly people being charged and bitten, causing concern about the safety of children and tourists unfamiliar with the wombat.

In a statement, DPIPWE confirmed it had received numerous calls from Weymouth residents about the wombat’s behaviour.​

“Following an investigation and acting on veterinarian advice, in the interests of public safety the animal was euthanised by a wildlife officer,” the statement read.

One person was hospitalised for treatment following an attack.

The statement from DPIPWE said the animal had no apparent signs of mange, and the carcass is at Mt Pleasant Laboratories for further investigation. 

DPIPWE said reports of aggressive wombats were “not common” in Tasmania.

It was suggested on social media the wombat could have been hand-reared and then abandoned, triggering unnaturally aggressive behaviour.

The incident follows the deaths of 13 wombats in Kelso, also in the state’s North, that were reportedly burned to death in a fire.

DPIPWE said the wombat population numbers across Tasmania were stable.