EXCLUSIVE By Ruth Jolley: CHILDREN'S corner favourite Wally the wallaby died after an attempt to move animals from Lilford Park turned into a fiasco.

The terrified wallaby died after escaping as animals were being loaded into a truck following Wigan Council's decision to close the Leigh animal corner.

Zoo keeper Paul Brown explained how elderly Wally escaped and was chased by a dog.

The petrified escapee was found in woodland and Mr Brown struggled to carry it back to the enclosure.

In agony

He said: "I was in agony -- but I knew I had to get it home if it was to have any chance of survival after its ordeal."

Sadly the frightened creature died overnight.

Mr Brown said the whole "debacle" could have been prevented with more helpers to move four wallabies, six deer, a rhea, two llamas and two peacocks.

Mr Brown -- who has cared for the Lilford animals for over 20 years -- said the collection wagon had no bedding or padding to protect animals and insisted transportation had never been properly discussed.

He claimed the wagon driver told him of a plan to put deer in plastic poultry crates.

Mr Brown said: "It would be more humane to put the animals down than repeat this trauma."

His concerns for the animals after Friday's events were expressed in a strong letter to Wigan's Director of Leisure Rodney Hill.

Tuesday transfer plans were interrupted when Journal staff arrived at the park where we later witnessed llamas and a peacock moved without incident.

At the scene RSPCA Inspector Cathy Hyde said: "No animals will be moved without a vet's approval. We have been asked to attend in an advisory capacity. We were not present on Friday when some of the animals were transported -- we had not been asked to be there.

"There was no indication of any intention to cause suffering to the animals so there won't be any investigation."

A Council spokesman said: "We have worked closely with the RSPCA, our own animal warden service and a local vet to manage the transfer as sensitively and humanely as possible. Mr Brown himself has been closely involved in planning all stages of the process.

New homes

"The RSPCA has inspected the animals' prospective new homes, and the way in which they are to be moved.

"Some are going to a rural animal centre that has RSPCA approval and a number of donkeys will be taken to a an approved sanctuary.

"Regarding Friday's unfortunate events transport arrangements were not made by the Council. We understood a firm experienced in moving animals long distances had been engaged. The RSPCA was aware of the plans.

"The death of the wallaby was very unfortunate -- we need to ensure remaining transfers go smoothly."