A wallaby has been eluding capture in the Devon countryside for approximately three years, according to local zoo officials. Native to Australia, the marsupial has been spotted multiple times but continues to evade efforts to safely apprehend it.

Danny Reynolds, co-founder of Exmoor Zoo, confirmed that the animal has not escaped from the zoo’s facilities. He described the wallaby as “too streetwise” to be caught, noting that it disappears quickly upon detecting human presence. Attempts to capture the animal near the zoo involved teams using net sweeps and even dart guns, but these efforts were unsuccessful. Reynolds suggested that the wallaby has adapted well to life in the wild and appears to be thriving in the Devon environment.

“The animal doesn’t belong in an enclosed environment now,” Reynolds said. “It’s enjoying itself out there.” He added that the marsupial subsists on local vegetation such as brambles and seems to prefer dense undergrowth and forested areas, which differ from its typical Australian habitat of rocky hills and caves. Despite its solitary nature, Reynolds remarked that the animal does not show signs of distress or loneliness.

Residents of Devon have reported sightings of the wallaby, and speculation remains that it may have originally come from a private collector or farm. On July 21, Vicky Wilkins, a local resident, observed the animal crossing a road near Barnstaple. Wilkins described her surprise, initially mistaking the creature for a large rabbit before realizing it was a wallaby. She said the animal appeared well-fed and unafraid during the encounter.

“I was so close to it, and I moved every time it moved,” Wilkins recalled. “When I stopped, it would just look at me; I didn’t think it was afraid or anything.”

Similar incidents have occurred in Devon earlier this year. In March 2024, a wallaby was filmed hopping along a road in Crediton, drawing attention on social media.

While the origin of the wallaby remains uncertain, its presence continues to intrigue both locals and wildlife experts, underscoring the adaptability of this Australian marsupial outside its native range.