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All the United Kingdom Scotland Argyll and Bute Wallabies of Inchconnachan

Wallabies of Inchconnachan

An eccentric aristocrat brought these Australian natives to their current Scottish home.

Argyll and Bute, Scotland

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Kerry Wolfe
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A wallaby on Inchconnachan.   MrOnetrackmind/CC BY 2.0
A wallaby on Inchconnachan.   MrOnetrackmind/CC BY 2.0
Bay on Inchconnachan.   Iain Simpson/CC BY-SA 2.0
The Inches.   john mcsporran/CC BY 2.0
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A small island in Scotland’s Loch Lomond has a population of unusual residents: feral wallabies. The troupe of marsupials was introduced to Inchconnachan in the 1940s, where they’ve roamed freely since.

The wallabies were brought to the island by Fiona Bryde Colquhoun, later known as Lady Arran. She was a quirky character with a love of exotic animals. Lady Arran once owned a backyard menagerie that included creatures like wallabies, llamas, and pigs. After World War II, she moved her wallabies to her holiday home on Inchconnachan. The eccentric aristocrat was also a celebrated power boater, and earned herself the nickname “the fastest granny on water.”

Unfortunately, the wallabies she loved aren’t viewed in the most favorable light. Many have suggested they should be culled, as the foreign animals—who are native to Australia—supposedly pose a threat to the island’s native capercaillie population. Tourists, however, seem to enjoy heading to Inchconnachan to catch a glimpse of its cute, though out-of-place, inhabitants.

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Animals Islands Animal Islands Lakes Water
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Added By

Kerry Wolfe

Published

September 7, 2017

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Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inchconnachan
  • https://www.visitscotland.com/info/towns-villages/inchconnachan-p669511
  • http://www.scotsman.com/news/the-loch-lomond-island-home-to-wallabies-and-how-to-get-there-1-4205617
  • http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-countess-arran-power-boat-champion-1-2960776
Wallabies of Inchconnachan
Argyll and Bute, Scotland
United Kingdom
56.09, -4.615

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