Native to Australia and New Guinea, the wallaby is part of the macropod family, along with another famous Aussie animal, the kangaroo. But there have been reports of wallaby sightings in the UK. Is this true? And if so, how did they get here? James Fair explains.
- Weird animals that call the British Isles home
- Raccoons, pink salmon and purple clams: these are the latest invasive threats to British wildlife, say experts
There are an estimated 50–60 red-necked wallabies on Inchconnachan island in Loch Lomond. They were introduced in the mid-20th century by the then-Countess of Arran. The island, which is an Area of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation, has been given the nickname 'Wallaby Island'.
Five red-necked wallabies were released from a private collection and colonised the Roaches in the Peak District during World War II. At their peak, there were said to be 50 animals, but the last confirmed sighting was in 2009.
In 1965, wallabies were brought to the government-owned wildlife zoo on the Isle of Man. A few of them escaped soon after and have been living as a feral population. Initial estimates put their population at fewer than 100, although drone surveys in 2023 and 2024 revealed numbers were more at the 870 mark.
In 2020, a study mapped 95 wallaby sightings across Britain over a 10-year period, with the Chilterns a particular hotspot, but there were no confirmed breeding populations.
A wallaby was also spotted running loose in Suffolk in August 2025, although it's not known whether the animal was an escapee or part of a free-roaming population.
Discover more stories from around the UK
- Poldark filming location and popular unofficial nudist spot closed because of health and safety concerns
- Relocating to these areas could add another year to your life expectancy
- Who is Reggie the dolphin and how should people behave around him?
- Over £5 for the average pint. But beer price isn't the only reason pubs are closing at a rate of eight per week in the UK
- This ancient cow tooth discovery could help unlock Stonehenge mystery, say scientists
Top image: wallabies in the Curragh Feeagh nature reserve on the Isle of Man. Credit: Getty
