As non-native species go, the wallaby is extremely lovable.  Two Sundays ago we drove an hour south to Waimate where we visited the Waimate Wallaby Park.  Gwen Dempster-Schouten – a real NZ character – has spent the last 35 years caring for orphaned Wallabies on her property.  It wasn’t until 1999 that she opened EnkleDooVery Korna – “A place with a variety of things.”   She has assembled quite a menagerie on her extensive property.  Besides wallabies, she houses bantams, horses, peacocks and some rare Finlayson sheep.  But it’s the wallabies – all 80 or so – that draw people to the Park.

 

Wallabies are marsupial mammals who are smaller than kangaroos.  The name “wallaby” was created by Australian aboriginals.  Wallabies originally called Australia and Tasmania home but were exported to Great Britain, western Europe, New Zealand and other Pacific Islands in the mid to late 1800’s.  The reason for their NZ introduction is vague; most likely to be hunted for sport.  New Zealand’s wallaby population is almost exclusively made up of the Bennett’s Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus). They’re distinguished by black nose and paws as well as a greyish brown coat.  As fully grown adults, they weigh between 30 and 40 pounds and measure 35 inches in length excluding their long, powerful tails used for balance and propulsion.

 

Wallabies are herbivores feasting on grasses, vegetables, and leaves.  They’re generally solitary animals but will congregate when there’s an abundance of food or water.  As pasture land grew on the South Island so did the wallaby habitat.  They are mainly crepuscular, feeding on cultivated crops at night while spending the daytime resting in forest groves.  Their South Island habitat ranges from the eastern mountain ranges of the Canterbury district (county)  eastward to the Pacific.  Predators of wallabies generally include wild dogs, foxes and feral cats; this is a major reason NZ  wallaby populations increased so quickly – they have no natural predators.  Wallabies use their strong hind quarters to flee would-be attackers by quickly bounding away.  These hind quarters are also used to kick any potential predator.  Unfortunately, as they venture further into suburban and urban settings, rising numbers are hit by cars along roadsides where they are forced to graze.

 

The wallaby danse d’amour is pretty straightforward.  The adult female kicks off  the courtship by licking the male’s neck.  The male then rubs his cheek against the female’s cheek.  A brief fight ensues before the loving begins..  A couple stays together one day before separating.  The female bears one offspring at a time.  The young offspring will stay in the mother’s pouch for close to 280 days; after this, mom and child will remain together  for only a month before separating.

 

Young wallabies are known as “joeys” while adult males are refered to as “bucks”, “boomers” and “jacks.”  Not surprisingly, female adults are called “does”, “flyers” and “jills.”  A group of wallabies is known as a “court”, “mob” or “troupe.”

 

Once again, we were amazed with the authenticity of our experience.  We were given instructions on how to feed the animals, given general directions, handed loads of wallaby food (pellets), and sent off on our own – no supervision, no time limit, no hidden cameras monitoring our movements.   We had a great time feeding and petting these harmless animals.  The only people who do consider them harmful are farmers who view not just their consumption of their crops but also their bounding through their fields as destructive.  Therefore, it’s wonderful there are people like Ms. Dempster-Schouten who are willing to take these animals.