Thousands sign petition to save Loch Lomond wallabies
The creatures on Inchconnachan island could be removed to make way for holiday lets.
More than 3,000 people have backed a petition to save wallabies on a Loch Lomond island.
The new owners of Inchconnachan island are planning to build holiday lets by removing some of the wildlife.
Craig Morrison started the campaign to save the creatures and told Clyde 1 he believes they are so important to the local community.
"Tourists on boat trips come to the island specifically to see the wallabies.
"Having visited the island myself, I can only describe seeing these creatures as magical and they deserve to be preserved."
The wallabies were first brought over to the island in the 1950s by Fiona, Countess of Arran, a member of the Colquhoun family who formerly owned the island.
However, there are now only seven of the animals left on the island.
Craig added: "I am so thankful to everyone who has signed the petition because it makes such a difference.
"The more voice we have, the louder we will be heard.
"There are very few animals more lovable than a wallaby."
A spokesperson for the new owners said: "Wallabies are a non-native, invasive species and can cause serious impacts to the flora of Inchconnachan, including young trees.
"In the longer term, the specially-designated woodland habitat would fail to regenerate, as happens with high deer numbers, too.
"In the past, wallabies have been controlled here.
"Control of other non-native and invasive species, which cause serious impacts on our own nature in Scotland, range from mink control in seabird colonies to rhododendron control in our west coast Scottish rainforest.
"NatureScot advises and supports land owners and managers to keep designated sites in good condition, with work ranging from controlling invasive species, to managing coastal erosion on sand dunes and reducing deer browsing in woodlands."