'An invasive species': How wallabies took over the Isle of Man

Submitted ⁨⁨18⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago⁩ by ⁨Tau@aussie.zone⁩ to ⁨worldnews@aussie.zone⁩

https://www.sbs.com.au/news/dateline/article/an-invasive-species-how-an-australian-marsupial-took-over-this-remote-british-island/i2ubkfnzs

But this remote island located in the middle of the Irish Sea has earned a new — and perhaps unexpected — reputation. It’s home to an iconic Australian marsupial: the red-necked wallaby.

In 2023, drone surveys by Manx Wildlife Trust identified 568 feral wallabies in Ballaugh Curragh, a protected marshland area on the Isle of Man.

Just two years later, the population had grown to 1,000 to 1,300, according to estimates from the local conservation charity.

source

Comments

Sort:hotnew top

robocall@lemmy.world ⁨16⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago

In 2023, drone surveys by Manx Wildlife Trust identified 568 feral wallabies in Ballaugh Curragh, a protected marshland area on the Isle of Man.

Just two years later, the population had grown to 1,000 to 1,300, according to estimates from the local conservation charity.

That’s a lot of wallabies for a small island. I know some people think they are cute, and want to keep them around, but invasive species hurt the environment.

source
- Tau@aussie.zone ⁨5⁩ ⁨hours⁩ ago
  Like the possums in NZ there isn’t really a good reason to keep them around - it’s just interesting to see a switcheroo from the usual stories of other countries animals causing problems in Australia.
  
  source