Edinburgh Zoo

Zoo News

Swamp Things

23 July 2008

Edinburgh Zoo welcomed two new arrivals this week. The Zoo is now home to a pair of swamp wallabies! The two young males, named Allambee and Barega, arrived from Belgium and have settled in well. Edinburgh Zoo is only the second zoo in the UK to care for swamp wallabies and it is hoped that a female will join the two males in the future.

Swamp wallabies are native to Cape York in Queensland. They are dark brown with lighter fur on their chest and they sometimes have a light-coloured stripe on each cheek. Despite the name they inhabit a variety of landscapes such as open forests and gullies, although their population has been in decline for a number of years due to habitat loss. Unfortunately for this species of wallaby, they are also known as ‘stinkers’ in their native Australia due to their distinctive scent!

Kathleen Standen, the Head Keeper at Edinburgh Zoo who cares for the wallabies, said:

“We were really excited to hear that swamp wallabies were joining our animal collection here at Edinburgh Zoo. They have quickly made themselves at home here and we’re pleased that they have settled in so well.”

notes to editors:

• Allambee and Barega are Aboriginal names. Allambee means ‘a quiet resting place’ and Barega means ‘wind’.
• Allambee and Barega are both 3 years old.
• The only other place in the UK to care for swamp wallabies is South Lakes Wild Animal Park in Cumbria.
• The swamp wallaby is also known as the black wallaby, fern wallaby and black pademelon.
• The swamp wallaby is the only living member of the genus Wallabia.
• The gait of the swamp wallaby differs from other wallabies as the swamp wallaby carries its head low and tail out straight.
• Swamp wallabies breed throughout the year. The gestation period is 33-38 days resulting in a single young. The joey is carried in the pouch for 8-9 months but will continue to suckle until they are around 15 months old.
• Swamp wallabies eat shrubs, grass, ferns and various other vegetation.
• According to Aboriginal people of the Bundjalung Nation, the swamp wallaby is inedible due to its smell and taste after cooking.
• Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park are owned by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), a registered charity, number SC004064. The Society was set up in 1909 ‘to promote, facilitate and encourage the study of zoology and kindred subjects and to foster and develop amongst the people an interest in and knowledge of animal life’. The Society will celebrate its centenary in 2009.
   

Registered charity number: SC004064

Edinburgh Zoo and the Highland Wildlife Park are owned by The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland.

Edinburgh | Scotland | United Kingdom | EH12 6TS

Tel: 0131 334 9171 | Fax: 0131 314 0384 | Email: info@rzss.org.uk

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