Wallaby on the loose in Yorkshire may have been STOLEN by wallaby thieves

The owners of a wallaby that escaped just hours after arriving at an animal attraction have said they cannot rule out the possibility he has been stolen.
The wallaby is still missing in YorkshireThe wallaby is still missing in Yorkshire
The wallaby is still missing in Yorkshire

Staff at the Filey Bird Garden and Animal Park, on the North Yorkshire coast, were left baffled after the 2ft tall marsupial disappeared despite them installing a purpose-built 6ft high "wallaby-proof" fence.

-> Wallaby on the loose after escaping wallaby-proof fence in Yorkshire parkIn a fresh statement on Wednesday, the family-run attraction said: "Thanks to everyone for their support. Unfortunately the wallaby is still missing.

"We have many messages suggesting it may have been stolen.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"As it went missing in the night we can't totally rule it out."

The statement said there had been two potential sightings - one near Gristhorpe Roundabout, about half a mile to the north, and one at the top of Folkton Brow, which is about two miles to the south.

-> Giant sinkhole opens up in Yorkshire supermarket car parkIt said: "We are still hoping to see him safely returned. Obviously we have had many messages and are unable to respond to them all, but the thoughts are appreciated."

The animal was one of two male Bennett's wallabies who arrived at the park on Monday.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He does not even have a name as the keepers were still in the early stages of planning a competition to name the new pair.

On Tuesday, animal manager Chris Holah said the family-run attraction had spent a lot of money on a specialist enclosure which they were assured by experts was wallaby-proof.

He said the wallaby disappeared some time between 7.30pm on Monday and 7am on Tuesday.

Mr Holah said the animal posed no threat to people and would probably be difficult to spot as he was likely to hide and was well camouflaged.

Related topics: