Hopper the Wallaby Escapes from Kielder Birds of Prey Centre
By Robert Weatherall, The Journal
IF you go down to the woods today you could be in for a big surprise.
For an escaped wallaby is on the loose in the wilds of Northumberland. Hopper hopped out of his enclosure at the Kielder Birds of Prey Centre on Sunday morning and has not been seen since.
The animal, which is one of five at the centre, managed to escape through a hole in the security fence. And now the marsupial, which is native to Australia, is thought to be roaming the woods and countryside surrounding the popular man-made lake.
Centre owner Ray Lowdon said he had no idea how the hole was made in the fence. He said: “It isn’t a case that the animal has managed to burrow beneath the fence or jump over it.
“There is a hole about 18in in circumference through the metal mesh. I don’t know if people have done it or if a badger has come along and decided to have a go at the fence.”
Hopper is two and half years old and mate to female wallabies Glenda and Jessie. Despite not being native to the UK there is no reason why he should not be able to thrive in the wild. Ray, 54, said: “If it was one of the two females which had gone missing I think we would have more chance of them returning.
“But Hopper is a little bit more independent.
“Although we feed them a variety of foods he will be quite capable of surviving on grass and there is no shortage of that out here.”
Ray set up his visitor centre 12 years ago to specialise in birds of prey, but in recent years has expanded his collection of animals to include deer and wallabies.
He said: “They have proved to be a popular attraction. Children love them and the wallabies enjoy being here. The fact that they are mating and producing offspring shows they are happy, they wouldn’t do that if they weren’t.”
In fact Ray hopes that Hopper’s desire for female companionship could be what eventually brings him home.
He said: “We can either wait until he gets very hungry although I doubt that will happen. Other than that he might come back looking for Glenda or Jessie.”
Anyone who sees Hopper, who is completely harmless to humans and other animals, is asked to call Ray at the centre on (01434) 250400 or police on 0345 604-3043.
