Wild Canon, I visited several sites who talked about the wallabies in the present tense, but none have any actual recorded sightings of the wallabies so I can't be 100% sure whether they are still around. Hopefully they are.
Kingfisher, that is quite an interesting oppurtunity! I'm not sure I would trust myself to look after such a wild animal, even if it has had several generations captive. I think it would be a real handful when it grew to full size, but I'm sure it would be very rewarding to look after such a wonderful animal.
This is just one of many non-natives in the uk, although it doesnt cause as much chaos as, say, mink, grey squirrels or rats. Wallabies is one of the more unusual ones as far as non-natives are concerned.
This is just one of many non-natives in the uk, although it doesnt cause as much chaos as, say, mink, grey squirrels or rats. Wallabies is one of the more unusual ones as far as non-natives are concerned.
Wallabies appear to be unusual in being non-native, yet benign. It's almost as if they occupy a deserted niche.
Oh, Welcome to Wildlife UK, The Stoop!
Kingfisher
It's unusual because they do seem to have little to no impact on the environment, which is great because they are great animals and if they can live here without any negatives then I'd be very happy.
There numbers don't seem to be increasing though if I'm right? If they are not increasing, then as there are such small numbers of them I fear that they may not be around for long.
It takes quite a while before any real effects become apparent usually, I wouldn't be so sure that if there started to be more and more wallabies in the countryside that they wouldn't have any effect, even if they don't seem to now.
I would be interested to know where you found your information, because I live less then 10 K from the Roaches and I'm pretty sure that they have died out, but it would be great to find that they're still surviving.
As you say, the colony started from 5 individuals, but my information is that they escaped around 1939/40.
Hi Richard,
I'm new to this forum and have just discovered this thread. I don't see a reply to your question so I thought (if it's not too late) you might like the information I have found.
http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/nos...ticle.html
It seems no Wallabies have been sighted recently but I am studying for a BA in Animal Behaviour and am thinking about using escaped/released wallabies as the basis for my thesis.
If you are still interested in more information please let me know and if I come across anything else I'll pass it on.
Regards
Rob
I live a few miles from The Roaches and I've not seen any (tho' my brother did, years ago)! I'd been led to believe that one of the cold winters in the '80s had killed them off - but I'll definitely keep my eyes open from now on!
I do know that a Board Member of the Peak National Park tried to get support for the wallabies on the basis that there was interest from the general public but the Board decided that they wouldn't support a non-native species
There is colony of wallibies living on an island in Loch Lomand. They have been reported observed within the last few months by someone I've been in contact with who has seen them recently.
Thy, I enjoiyed your link . The old pics were lovely & it's nice to think that they may still be going today.