Wallaby spotted at Highgate Cemetery

The wallaby wanders round "as bold as brass", staff say

A wallaby has set up camp in Highgate Cemetery in north London.

The marsupial was first photographed at the cemetery - famed as the final resting place of Karl Marx - on Sunday.

Melanie Wynward, who runs visitor services, said they had all seen the animal which was wandering around "as bold as brass".

It is a mystery as to where the creature has come from. No animals have been reported missing from nearby Golders Hill Park zoo.

Ms Wynward said there were no plans to move the wallaby, which they are going to let settle and see how it gets on. Staff are leaving out fruit and vegetables.

Jeremy Beadle

"The animal is in a section of the cemetery which is only accessible on the guided tours," said Ms Wynward.

"I've had a call from a lady who wanted to rescue and adopt it but I told her we'd take care of it."

Staff at the cemetery believe they may have seen a second wallaby since the weekend.

The cemetery already looks after foxes, rare insects, bats and also has a beehive.

A wallaby was spotted last week on nearby Hampstead Heath, according to the Ham and High.

Wallabies are native to Australia, however they have been introduced in the UK in parks, zoos and farms.

Highgate Cemetery, which first opened in 1839, is the final resting place of TV personality Jeremy Beadle, punk impresario Malcolm McLaren and author George Eliot.