A HUNT for wild wallabies around the Ballaugh Curraghs staged recently by the Manx Wildlife Trust resulted in a last minute success for the event organisers when they spotted the animals after sunset.
The walk around the Ballaugh Curraghs was a corporate event for accountancy firm PwC arranged by the Trust’s fund raising officer, Anne Marie Kilgallon, and led by keen amateur wildlife film maker and Trust volunteer, Steve Wright. The walk was attended by a number of PwC’s staff and their families.
The hunt for the wallabies appeared to be over with the marsupials well-camouflaged by the willow trees and vegetation. However, just as the light was starting to fade, Steve pointed out two of the elusive creatures before they bounded away. As wallabies are nocturnal, the best time to see them is close to dusk or dawn.
PwC, a firm of chartered accountants based in Douglas, has a tradition of providing both practical and financial support to local charities and has just become a Silver Corporate Member of the Manx Wildlife Trust.
Staff from the firm were keen to take the opportunity to get out and about with the Trust and learn about local wildlife. The possibility of seeing some wild wallabies was an added incentive and not just for the children!
Wallabies have regularly been seen in the Ballaugh Curraghs since some escaped from captivity on the Island many years ago. It is thought that there could be as many as 100 wallabies in the area and on one of Steve’s previous walks around the Curraghs, participants spotted 17 of the marsupials.
Steve Wright arranges bespoke, local wildlife tours and walks throughout the year. For further information, go to www.iomtours.co.uk where you can also read Steve’s wildlife diary.
To find out more about the Manx Wildlife Trust’s Corporate Membership scheme for local businesses, please go to its website www.manxwt.org.uk or call Anne Marie Kilgallon, at the Trust’s office in St Johns, on 801985.
The Manx Wildlife Trust is the leading nature conservation charity on the Isle of Man and whilst it is a fully independent, Manx charity it also benefits from its partnership with 46 other Wildlife Trusts throughout the British Isles.
One of the Trust’s main aims is to acquire and manage nature reserves and safe sites for wildlife, conserving some of the best habitats and species on the Island. To this effect, the Trust is currently actively managing 20 local reserves encompassing almost 300 acres of land. The Trust is also committed to providing environmental education and awareness throughout the local community.
