Isle of Man marshlands offer ‘almost perfect’ wallaby habitat, charity states

A conservation charity has stated that the conditions in a Manx marshland, where wallabies escaped in the 1960s, were “almost perfect” for their population to expand to 1,000 individuals. Although only a small number of wallabies initially escaped from a nearby wildlife park, recent surveys conducted in the Ballaugh Curragh and its adjacent regions indicate a significant increase in their numbers. Leigh Morris, chief executive of the Manx Wildlife Trust, noted that the habitat resembled Tasmania, a region where the species is indigenous. This similarity, he explained, enabled the wild population to flourish in the island’s north-west before spreading to various glens and forests over the last six decades. Mr. Morris commented that despite the common expectation for marsupials, typically linked with Australian forests, to favor warmer climates, wallabies are also “quite happy in Tasmania, where it rains a lot and is quite chilly in the winter.” He further added that the wetlands, designated as an internationally important site, being neither densely populated nor intensively farmed, also contributed to the population’s growth. While earlier estimations indicated over 100 wild wallabies on the Isle of Man, recent data now suggests the total count is probably between 950 and 1,050. According to the report’s authors, these animals can now also be observed in Ramsey Forest and on the western flank of Ballaugh Glen. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (Defa) stated its intention to assess the population’s health prior to determining if any management interventions are required. The species lacks natural predators on the island, and authorities have not made any efforts to manage the population for the last 60 years. Mr. Morris remarked that with the population size now established, “we should be having a conversation about their impact and their health” and whether such a number is sustainable. He also mentioned that the trust has noted the presence of blind wallabies within the population, and although the causes remain uncertain, “we have to ask if that is because of inbreeding.” The survey findings, he concluded, indicate that the island “needs to have a serious conversation” regarding this matter, with Defa taking the lead.