By Cicero’s News Desk
Motorists in Dartford were left rubbing their eyes this week when an unmistakably un-British creature hopped into view. A white wallaby, more at home bounding across the Australian outback than the B2174 roadside, was spotted calmly nibbling grass before being rescued and returned to its grateful owner.
Kent Police confirmed the marsupial was “safely retrieved” after concerned passers-by raised the alarm. “We’ve had stray dogs, runaway horses, even the odd sheep,” said one local officer, “but this was a first.”
Locals joked that the county’s wildlife list now rivals a safari park, after previous reports of llamas, alpacas and even an emu running amok on British roads.
The rescued wallaby — whose name has not been released, though neighbours call it “Skippy” — was quickly identified and collected by its owner, who lives nearby and keeps exotic animals legally under licence.
For a brief spell, though, Dartford motorists could be forgiven for thinking they’d driven through a wormhole to the Australian bush.
Escaped & Exotic: Britain’s Animal Oddities
Britain has seen its fair share of exotic escapees over the years. Some famous (and infamous) sightings include:
The Emu on the A1 (2015) – A wayward bird caused chaos near Durham, sprinting down the dual carriageway before being coaxed into a horsebox.
The Beast of Bodmin (1980s–1990s) – A string of big cat sightings in Cornwall, widely believed to be a puma or leopard released after the Dangerous Wild Animals Act.
Parakeets of London – Legend has it that Jimi Hendrix released the first pair in the 1960s. Now, the skies from Richmond to Hackney are filled with squawking green flocks.
Alpacas in Hertfordshire (2020) – Three escapees held up morning commuters when they wandered out of a private smallholding.
The Coypu of East Anglia (1960s–1980s) – Giant South American rodents that gnawed their way into headlines before an eradication campaign finally saw them off.
