New road hazard for drivers in Brittany… a wallaby
The mysterious animal has been seen several times since December
A free-roaming wallaby in Morbihan led to the installation of specially-made road signs... which have all been stolen
Mairie of Plumelin
Drivers in Morbihan, Brittany, are being urged to watch out for a free-roaming wallaby.
The wallaby, which is around 70 cm tall, has been spotted several times in the commune of Plumelin, in the north-west of France, since early December.
The Mayor of Plumelin, Pierre Guégan, told The Connexion that he “regularly” receives wallaby updates from local residents or passers-by, however nobody knows where the animal came from or who it belongs to.
“It is surprising how much media coverage we have had,” he added.
Read also: Anyone in Normandy lost a kangaroo?
Road signs installed… and stolen
The commune of Morbihan put up three specially-made road signs at the start of February, to indicate the animal's presence and urge driver caution.
“Road signs featuring kangaroos in France are few and far between,” said Mr Guégan, who wanted to ensure the safety of both the animal and drivers.
Since installing the signs, however, all three have been “stolen” and will not be replaced as the mairie is now focusing on ways to catch the wallaby.
Members of the public should not try to catch the animal
A specialist, solicited by the Plumelin mairie, has tried to capture the wallaby on three occasions, without success.
Mr Guégan confirmed that he is in contact with several people who already own wallabies and has also spoken with a vet to try and find a solution.
The animal is “not bothering anyone,” said Mr Guégan, however local residents are warned against interacting with it or trying to catch it themselves. The wallaby could become aggressive if threatened.
Read also: Understanding France's Wildlife Rescue Laws: Challenges in Helping Injured Animals
Wallabies in France
Wallabies originate in Australia, but a population of about 100 was estimated 10 years ago to be living in the Rambouillet forest, Yvelines, having become established in the 1970s when some escaped from a zoo.
They have not been spotted recently.
Bruno Munilla, from the Cerf group that studies the forest, told Le JDD: “If they have been eradicated, it’s sad, but no one seems to care.”
Wallabies are not classed as a harmful species, neither do they benefit from special protection, but hunters are not meant to kill them. Even so, they are vulnerable to poachers, animal traffickers or even just people looking for an exotic pet, Le JDD said.
