Inchconnachan facts for kids
| Gaelic name | Innis Chonachain |
|---|---|
| Meaning of name | The Colquhoun's Island |
| OS grid reference | NS375918 |
| Coordinates | 56°05′28″N 4°36′43″W / 56.091°N 4.612°W |
| Physical geography | |
| Island group | Loch Lomond |
| Area | 35 ha |
| Area rank | (Freshwater: 12) |
| Highest elevation | 50 m |
| Administration | |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Country | Scotland |
| Council area | Argyll and Bute |
| Demographics | |
| Population | ~60 Wallabies |
 |
|
Inchconnachan (pronounced "Inch-con-a-chan") is a beautiful island located in Loch Lomond, a famous lake in Scotland. Its Gaelic name, Innis Chonachain, means 'The Colquhoun's Island'. This island is part of the amazing Trossachs National Park. You can reach it by boat from the village of Luss, which is on the south side of the loch.
Even though it has a holiday home, no one lives on Inchconnachan permanently. It's a very special place for nature! It's known as an Area of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Area of Conservation. This means the island has important plants, animals, or geology that are protected by law.
Wallabies on the Island
Inchconnachan Island is famous for its wild wallabies. These animals are a type of marsupial, similar to a small kangaroo. The wallabies on the island are from the species Macropus rufogriseus, also known as the Red-necked Wallaby.
Lady Colquhoun brought these wallabies to the island in the 1940s. Since then, they have lived and reproduced freely. Inchconnachan is one of the very few places outside Australia where wallabies live in the wild.
Recently, there has been a lot of discussion about the wallabies. Some people think they should be removed from the island. This is because they might threaten the native capercaillie bird population. Capercaillie are large, rare birds native to Scotland.
Removing the wallabies is a difficult decision. Some tourists visit the island just to see them. Also, some animal rights groups believe it would be unkind to the wallabies. Iain Sheves, who manages the Luss Estates, has shared his thoughts on the matter.
He believes that native Scottish wildlife should be protected first. He said that if it comes down to choosing between rare native species and animals that aren't originally from Scotland, the native species should always come first. He hopes people visit Scotland to see its natural animals and habitats.
Mr. Sheves also stated that everyone has a duty to protect native wildlife. He feels it's not right to keep the wallabies just because they are a "tourist oddity."
The Island's Sale
On July 9, 2020, Inchconnachan Island was put up for sale. The Colquhoun family, who owned the island, set the price at over £500,000.
The sale included an old, empty wooden house. This house was built in the 1920s for a tea merchant named Admiral Sullivan. Later, it became the holiday home for the family of Lady Arran Colquhoun.
Plans are already approved to replace the old house. The new plans include building a modern four-bedroom lodge. There will also be a one-bedroom house for a warden, a boat house, and a pier.
