An albino wallaby has been found in the countryside near Dover, England. The animal was hiding in bushes in the village of Hougham and was spotted by a local on Sunday morning.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) rescued the wallaby. The animal was not in good health. “He had blood on his nose and back legs,” animal rescue officer Wayne Baker told the BBC.
“He had probably been sitting there for hours. I gave him water, but it was clear he needed a vet,” he added.
The wallaby is now getting medical care and is staying at a shelter while the RSPCA waits to hear from the owner.
Wallabies in England
Wallabies are small to medium-sized marsupials closely related to kangaroos. They carry their young, called joeys, in a pouch on their belly until the joey is old enough to survive outside.
While native to Australia and nearby islands, some species have adapted well to other environments, like the British countryside, where small wild populations have survived for decades.
According to a 2020 study by the University of South Wales and University College Dublin, around 95 wallabies live wild in the UK today. Most of them are red-necked wallabies.
These animals were first brought to the UK for zoos and private collections. Some escaped or were released, especially during World War II.
Since then, they’ve survived and even reproduced in the wild.
Wild wallabies continue to be recorded across Britain, according to the study. They’re sometimes seen in a garden, on a country lane, or along a motorway.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting our animal news platform!
