Scottish Wallaby.....

upyonder · #1 (**permalink**) 29-10-2007, 11:46 AM

Whilst visiting North cave wetlands yesterday, by the way superb area to watch wildlife and walk....in the first hide there was a British Mammal ? wallchart, on it was a "Red" Wallaby and Im sure it mentioned that these are hopping about in Scotland, can anyone shed some light on this........
Ive heard of wild wallabys around the Cannock Chase area.

Lance Morgan · #2 (**permalink**) 29-10-2007, 12:07 PM

They called red necked wallabies and I found the following on the net. They are escapees that have become 'naturalised'.

'Small colonies are found in the Peak District in England and near Loch Lomond in Scotland, and a large colony roams freely at Whipsnade Zoo'.

mh68 · #3 (**permalink**) 29-10-2007, 12:24 PM

We used to see the Loch Lomond Wallabys quite often back in the 80s.Apparently escapees from a wildlife park.

Mark H

upyonder · #4 (**permalink**) 29-10-2007, 12:58 PM

Thanks.....we were walking around Mam Tor on saturday but didnt see the Peak District ones !

ron1863 · #5 (**permalink**) 31-10-2007, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mh68

We used to see the Loch Lomond Wallabys quite often back in the 80s.Apparently escapees from a wildlife park.

Mark H

I think they actually escaped from the old Loch Lomond Bear Park, which shut down many years ago. I hear they are doing very well and have acclimatised to the lovely warm Sottish climate.

mh68 · #6 (**permalink**) 31-10-2007, 03:57 PM

Yes youre probably correct Ron.Its been so many years since i was last up that way I couldnt recollect where they escaped from exactly...the Bear Park does ring a bell...

Mark H

m1.carson · #7 (**permalink**) 31-10-2007, 04:15 PM

Hi,

I hate to keep harping on, but they're about to let loose wolves and bears in Scotland, if wallabys can escape .......

Max.

barquar · #8 (**permalink**) 31-10-2007, 07:30 PM

I do believe that there have been no sightings off wallabies in the peak district for a number off years now.
Barquar

ron1863 · #9 (**permalink**) 01-11-2007, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m1.carson

Hi,

I hate to keep harping on, but they're about to let loose wolves and bears in Scotland, if wallabys can escape .......

Max.

Don't know about bears but I am all for Beavers as they were native at one time until man wiped them out.

Paul mabbott · #10 (**permalink**) 01-11-2007, 12:35 PM

The Staffordshire wallabies have not been seen for many a year. There seem to have been two escapes/releases. The escape from a zoo in Leek in the 1930s. A larger release came about because there was a colony at Swythamely Hall near Wincle - these were released onto the moors during WW1 due to food shortage. They thrived for several years but then died out - which suggests that they're unlikely to survive hard winters?

Non native · #11 (**permalink**) 08-11-2007, 09:59 PM

You are correct, there are wallabys in Britain. There are in fact 3 colonies the Loch Lomond ones mentioned, but there are also colonies around the Woburn area on the Greensand ridge and one on the Isle of Man Ballagh Curraghs.

There are also lots of other introduced wildlife such as Wild Boar which is being featured on Autumn watch

big bill · #12 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 06:33 PM

Did hear about the possibility of the release of wolves into the Cairngorm National park a few months ago but have heard nothing about the bears.I think they are still dabating the wolvws at present time.

aeshna5 · #13 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Non native

You are correct, there are wallabys in Britain. There are in fact 3 colonies the Loch Lomond ones mentioned, but there are also colonies around the Woburn area on the Greensand ridge and one on the Isle of Man Ballagh Curraghs.

There are also lots of other introduced wildlife such as Wild Boar which is being featured on Autumn watch

The big difference is that Wild Boar are a native species which was driven to extinction by man + truly belongs here!

Paul mabbott · #14 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 08:19 PM

Is there any indication that wallabies are (or could be) a problem? I imagine that they would compete with grazing animals, mainly sheep? If so then they would be a farming problem rather than an ecological one. Or could they have a deleterious effect on deer?

PS: I must admit that I like them ... misspent years as a child watching Skippy .. altogether you oldsters, "Skippy, Skippy ... Skippy the bush kangaroo ....." ...... how I learned to hate that song

Non native · #15 (**permalink**) 09-11-2007, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul mabbott

Is there any indication that wallabies are (or could be) a problem? I imagine that they would compete with grazing animals, mainly sheep? If so then they would be a farming problem rather than an ecological one. Or could they have a deleterious effect on deer?

In the numbers present the impact is minimal but it could change if numbers rose dramatically. Currently their numbers are stable.

seamusagleann · #16 (**permalink**) 11-11-2007, 03:56 PM

a few years back a report came into the forest office at oban that one of our workers had hit ,what he said was a kangaroo, just south of the town . it was infact a wallaby and it skipped away ,unhurt. trouble was that the guy was well known as a deciple of bachus , and no one believed him.

lilliespace · #17 (**permalink**) 15-11-2007, 09:48 PM

I came across your thread after 'googling' Wallaby Cannock Chase. I was on my way home this evening, 6.45pm when I saw what I first thought was a small Deer, but as it raised up onto its' rear legs and hopped away, I realised that it was indeed a WALLABY. I shall be carrying my Camera with me from now on in order to try get a pic which I will post here if/when successful.