Instead of dozens of wallabies as had been believed, a staggering 870 individuals were counted in the north of the island alone, and it’s now believed there are somewhere between 950 and 1,150 animals living wild. Because they are all descended from a handful of individuals, they are almost certainly inbred, with some individuals suffering from afflictions that leave them with milky white eyes and probably blind. These same animals are described as appearing disorientated.

Arguably more urgent are the impacts the wallabies are having on the Isle of Man’s native wildlife, and farmers’ fears they could spread diseases to their livestock. Everyone agrees that something has to be done but no one wants to use the word ‘cull’, not least because the wallabies have become embedded within Manx national identity and are a tourist attraction, too.