Wallaby has college’s staff hopping with excitement

Bishop Burton College recently acquired four wallabies from a collector in Doncaster, and two of them turned out to be pregnant.

The first joey – the name given to infant marsupials – is being carried in its mother’s pouch, and another is expected soon.

The curriculum leader for animal management, Sue Harvey, believes the new arrivals indicate the wallabies are happy in their new home.

She said: “Obviously we are delighted that the wallabies are breeding as it shows they are settled and happy in our dedicated outdoor handling centre.

“The joeys will be a great teaching resource too as students will be able to observe all of the developmental stages of the animals, as well as learn about husbandry techniques and nutrition.”

Wallaby is the name given any of about 30 species of macropod that are smaller than a kangaroo or wallaroo and have not been given another name.

Wallabies are natives of Australia and were introduced to New Zealand, where they are seen as a pest.

There are a few populations of wallabies in the British Isles, the largest of which can be found on the Isle of Man, where there is thought to be a breeding colony of about 100.

The college recently welcomed its first meerkat pups and the outdoor handling unit is also home to lemurs, alpacas, rheas (flightless birds), and pallas squirrels.

The public can see the animals during lambing Sunday on March 27, or on the town and countryside open day, on May 29.