Missing wallaby’s grim ending on NI road raises ownership concerns

The non-native species was discovered by dog walkers after being struck by a car (please note a graphic picture is included in this story)

A wallaby has been found dead on a road in Lisburn raising public safety and animal welfare concerns.

The non-native species was discovered by dog walkers at 9am on Thursday October 16 and thought to have been hit and killed by a passing car.

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council was contacted by a local group who found the marsupial with the remains promptly removed from the scene. The Local Democracy Reporting Service contacted a Lambeg Dog Walking spokesperson on the grim discovery.

READ MORE: Education Minister sets date for school curriculum change to help those struggling in education.

READ MORE: Alternative Lisburn burials compared to the ‘Disappeared’.

A spokesperson said: “I found the wallaby on the back roads at about 9amin the Ballyskeagh area yesterday morning. I wasn’t sure what to do, so I contacted the council as I thought that the animal must have been microchipped and they would be able to find the owner.

“Thankfully the council came out soon afterwards and retrieved the animal’s remains. It is definitely an exotic animal not too familiar to here, but I have seen a few of them bouncing about the area before. This sight though was a bit grim. Some people were saying that it could belong to a local animal centre and perhaps it had escaped during the night.

“I just want to make sure that more safety is taken so no more wallabies or other such animals are killed on the roads.”

Similar reports of missing wallabies have been made in recent years in the Lisburn area, with the LDRS understanding that a drone operation is due to get underway to help track down a number of missing wallabies in the locality.

In years gone by, the owners of an animal sanctuary in Lisburn have previously rescued wallabies found loose in the city.

A LCCC spokesperson said: “Following a call from a member of the public our Animal Welfare Officer visited the location of a wallaby at the roadside. On arrival the animal was confirmed as deceased. We took it to be scanned and no microchip was present.

“Following online research an animal owner who was missing a wallaby was identified. We contacted this individual and advised we had recovered the remains of a wallaby. They appreciated us getting in touch and said it was more than likely theirs.

“The council has no responsibility for the licensing of wallabies and their care as that lies with DAERA.”

The LDRS contacted Lost and Found Pets North Down/Ards and Surrounding Areas on social media, after they had made a public appeal over four missing wallabies. However, the identity of the potential owner has not been disclosed “as he is not even 100% sure they are his” according to the rehoming group.

The welfare of the missing marsupials has raised some public safety concerns with the USPCA warning people not to attempt to remove any animal carcasses.

USPCA’s Siobhan McHaffie said: “We are saddened to hear of a wallaby being killed on a roadside in the Lisburn area. While this appears a tragic accident, it nonetheless draws attention to broader issues of wildlife, public safety, and the pressures of keeping wild animals in captivity.

“If you encounter a road-killed animal, the appropriate action is to report it to local authorities and not to disturb or attempt to move it. Carcasses may carry disease, and their removal is generally a task for those with appropriate training and equipment.

“As for proposals to keep wild animals such as wallabies, whether as pets or in small commercial settings, we strongly caution against it. Wild animals have highly specialised physical, behavioural and social requirements that are rarely met outside of expert zoological institutions. Existing laws in Northern Ireland largely focus on public safety and less so on welfare, so many exotic species fall through gaps in regulation.

“As an animal welfare charity, we’d like to see stricter controls and legislation to prevent wild animals being kept privately or commercially unless under full, accredited, professionally regulated conditions.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here