To our British SWers, is it true that Australian wallabies have gone feral in the UK?

Wallabies are an introduced pest that are destroying our native forests and farms.

There were introduced to New Zealand mainly for sport and the value of their skins. Wallaby species in New Zealand include Bennett's, dama, parma, brush-tailed rock and swamp wallabies.

They are a significant pest because they browse on native plants which in turn negatively impacts forest regeneration. Wallabies do not have any natural predators so have adapted well in Aotearoa.

Wallabies are introduced herbivores. They graze on pasture and browse on native plants eat everything that’s at their height in our native bush, including the seedlings that make up future native bush destroy productive farmland and forests, and reduce biodiversity in our iconic landscapes
cost New Zealanders millions in lost farm production and the overall benefits we get from our environment.

Five species of wallabies were introduced to New Zealand from Australia in the late 1800s. They were brought here mainly for hunting and for people who had private zoos. They do not have any natural predators in this country and have adapted well.

Three of these species have become significant pests:

the dama wallaby and parma wallaby in the North Island (found mainly around the Rotorua Lakes area)
the Bennett's wallaby in the South Island (found mostly in South Canterbury but spreading to other areas).