Golfers in Nottinghamshire are buzzing about an unexpected visitor: a wallaby making its rounds on their village golf course.

This wandering marsupial, typically found in Australasia and New Guinea, has been spotted multiple times in the region. The most recent sighting occurred at the Oakmere Golf Club, located near Southwell, Nottinghamshire.

The wallaby was first noticed by the golf club’s groundkeeper on July 29. Initially, the sighting seemed almost too strange to believe.

Daryl St John Jones, the club’s director of golf, shared his surprise with the BBC, noting that he initially thought the sighting was a prank. However, after receiving a photograph and additional reports from club members, it became clear that this was no joke.

Tracking the Wandering Wallaby

The National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Trust, in collaboration with the Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust, is now working to document this unusual sighting.

According to the NBN Trust, there have been 411 wallaby sightings across the UK. These sightings include locations like Devon, the Peak District, Derbyshire, East Sussex, and County Durham.

Rare but Not Unheard Of

While wallabies are not native to the UK, it is believed that they have managed to survive and reproduce after escaping from zoos.

Mandy Henshall, the NBN’s communications and engagement manager, emphasized the rarity of such sightings, noting that most records are from the Isle of Man or other scattered locations around the UK.

Identifying the Wallaby

Wallabies, which resemble smaller versions of kangaroos, stand about 3 feet tall. They are distinguished by their upright stance, short arms, long tails, and pointed ears.

Their coats can range from dark gray to brown, with a reddish hue on their shoulders. Like kangaroos, wallabies carry their young in pouches and travel by hopping.

TDPel Media

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn