In a peculiar incident in Canada, a fugitive kangaroo, which had been on the loose for four days, was apprehended by the police on Monday, not without a bit of drama as it managed to land a punch on one of the officers.
Durham Regional Police received an unexpected call from a member of the public reporting a kangaroo sighting in Oshawa, located 40 miles east of Toronto. The kangaroo had bolted while being transferred between zoos and was observed hopping along the side of a highway by perplexed motorists who captured the scene on social media.
The dispatched officers were given guidance on the appropriate method to subdue a kangaroo: seizing it by the tail. Staff Sergeant Chris Boileau informed reporters on Monday that, adhering to this protocol, the officers successfully apprehended the kangaroo, managing to keep it confined in the area. Boileau mentioned, “Only one of the officers was struck in the face during the apprehension, but he’ll be just fine, and we won’t be continuing the investigation.”
Seizing the opportunity at around 3 a.m. on Monday, officers took custody of the marsupial while it had paused for a break. According to a police statement, “The kangaroo gave up and surrendered peacefully to police officers. She then received a ride in one of our K9 kennels back to the zoo where she is being examined.”
Cameron Preyde, the park supervisor and headkeeper at the Oshawa Zoo and Fun Farm, explained to CBC that the kangaroo had managed to elude its handlers during a planned rest stop at the facility late on Thursday while en route to Quebec. Despite efforts to locate the four-year-old female kangaroo, which was traveling alongside its adult offspring, the darkness hindered the search.
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The unnamed kangaroo is now slated to travel to Quebec after a period of rest, with handlers likely to keep a closer watch on her to prevent any further escapades.