Mystery of runaway ’roo

Vienna – A kangaroo is on the loose and has been spotted in forests and meadows in Austria, police said yesterday.

The animal – not a native to the central European country – has been seen numerous times since late last week in Hellmonsoedt district in Upper Austria state.

Police, who have identified it to be a kangaroo from photos and videos, are trying to find out who the animal belongs to.

“We have called all the zoos and kangaroo breeders, but no one is missing a kangaroo. We hope the owner will come forward,” a Hellmonsoedt police official, who declined to be named, told AFP. “It sounds unbelievable, but it’s true.”

Police believe there is little to worry about because the kangaroo is a “shy animal” so is unlikely to cause any damage, and “its survival chances [in the wild] are perfect”.