'I'm 100 per cent sure - that's what it was': Yet another witness says she saw a wallaby in Northamptonshire's Salcey Forest
Another wallaby sighting in Northamptonshire - surely they can't all be mistaken?
"Mum - what animals do we have in this country that look like little kangaroos?"
That was the burning question on Harriet Palmer's mind for her mum after driving through Salcey Forest - and reportedly spotting a wallaby by the side of the road.
Harriet is the latest person to lay a claim to seeing the marsupial creatures in Northamptonshire, which have been heard in rumours again and again in the county.Harriet says the chance encounter happened as she drove away from Northampton through Salcey Forest last Friday (February 7).
She told the Chronicle & Echo: "I was travelling back from Northampton through Salcey Forest on the main road. It was around 8pm, so it was quite dark.
"I don't know what it was that made me look - it must have seen it's shining eyes or something that drew my attention."
Harriet claims it was at that moment she saw, standing at the side of the road, what she could only call 'a kangaroo'.
"It was dark coloured and must have been three-and-a-half feet tall, and it definitely didn't resemble anything else," said Harriet. "The only thing I could think of was a kangaroo.
"It was standing by the side of the road, with half of it hidden behind a log.
"I had to drive on past because there was another car behind me or else I would have stopped.
"Of course the first thing I do is call my mum and say 'what animals do we have in this country that look like small kangaroos?'"
It was only later that Harriet was able to look up the many wallaby sightings that have been rumoured in Northamptonshire.
It includes a reported encounter in Hunsbury Meadow last year - which, when reported by the Chron, was met with several comments by other residents who say they had seen the same thing.Meanwhile, another wallaby was spotted near Towcester in 2007.
And of course, in 2015, there was the infamous sighting of the rare white Bennett's wallaby caught on video near Salcey Forest - but sadly this animal was killed in an apparent dog attack a few days later.
But for now, the newest Wallaby of Salcey Forest could still be on the loose.
Harriet said: "I saw it on the main road from Northampton through the forest. It was very close to the car park for the tree top walk.
"To be honest I was just really pleased when mum said other people had seen one too and I wasn't going mad. At the time I didn't realise it was such a rare thing.
"But I'm 100 per cent sure - that's what it was."
The RSPCA urges anyone who spots a rare animal and are concerned for their welfare to contact the charity.
If you spot a wallaby in the Hunsbury or Northampton area, get in touch with us here at the Chronicle and Echo by emailing [email protected].