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Wallaby spotted in Cornish garden | Wallaby spotted in Cornish garden |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A wallaby with a baby joey has been photographed hopping around the back garden of a house in Cornwall. | A wallaby with a baby joey has been photographed hopping around the back garden of a house in Cornwall. |
The marsupial and her youngster were spotted by an "amazed" Brian Nash on his neighbour's patio in St Breward, near Bodmin, on Thursday morning. | |
"She was just hopping about enjoying the morning sun," he said | "She was just hopping about enjoying the morning sun," he said |
It is thought the female may have mated with a male wallaby which escaped two years ago from Trevathan Farm near St Endellion - about eight miles away. | It is thought the female may have mated with a male wallaby which escaped two years ago from Trevathan Farm near St Endellion - about eight miles away. |
Trevathan Farm owner Mark Symons said his wallaby is regularly spotted in the area. | Trevathan Farm owner Mark Symons said his wallaby is regularly spotted in the area. |
I couldn't believe what I was seeing Brian Nash | I couldn't believe what I was seeing Brian Nash |
"I've never seen him myself, but lots of other people apparently have," he told BBC News. | "I've never seen him myself, but lots of other people apparently have," he told BBC News. |
"He was a healthy youngster, capable of living for years, so it could well be his mate and little joey." | "He was a healthy youngster, capable of living for years, so it could well be his mate and little joey." |
No parks or farms in Cornwall have reported a missing female wallaby, but she may have escaped from a private collection or been dumped by an owner who no longer wanted her. | No parks or farms in Cornwall have reported a missing female wallaby, but she may have escaped from a private collection or been dumped by an owner who no longer wanted her. |
Breeders and animal experts said a growing number of people in the UK were buying wallabies to keep their lawns and gardens in trim. | |
Mr Symons said wallabies could survive easily in the Bodmin Moor area, with an almost unlimited amount of vegetation for food. | Mr Symons said wallabies could survive easily in the Bodmin Moor area, with an almost unlimited amount of vegetation for food. |
Buzzards and foxes could pose a threat to the joey | Buzzards and foxes could pose a threat to the joey |
"They've no natural predators, although the joey could possibly be nabbed by a buzzard or a fox," he said. | "They've no natural predators, although the joey could possibly be nabbed by a buzzard or a fox," he said. |
"A large dog could be a risk, but then a wallaby has the speed to escape." | "A large dog could be a risk, but then a wallaby has the speed to escape." |
Mr Nash said the wallaby did not appear nervous of him, but was scared off by a cat. | Mr Nash said the wallaby did not appear nervous of him, but was scared off by a cat. |
"She bounced off over a hedge and was gone and I couldn't see her after that," he said. | "She bounced off over a hedge and was gone and I couldn't see her after that," he said. |
"It was very strange - I couldn't believe what I was seeing." | "It was very strange - I couldn't believe what I was seeing." |
Experts said wallabies were well known for being able to find each other in the wild. |
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