No, it’s not the Americans confusing our two countries again – rather, the BBC is reporting that a suspected kangaroo has been spotted roaming the fields and forests of Austria this week.
Locals have been posting pictures and videos of ‘Skippy’ on social media, but so far, the mystery marsupial has eluded capture by Austrian police who are treating it as a ‘missing pet’ case.
“We have called all the zoos and kangaroo breeders around us, but no one is missing a kangaroo. We hope the owner will come forward,” police told Agence France-Press.
The hills are alive with the sound of … roos?
Apparently, it is legal to keep a kangaroo as a pet in Austria, but you do need a special animal license.
While the runaway roo has taken residents by surprise, it’s not the first time such a marsupial has been seen in the European country. In 2016, locals reported numerous sightings of a kangaroo which turned out to be a pet from neighbouring Germany.
The authorities aren’t too worried about the marsupial’s chances in the Austrian wilderness however: “Its survival chances [in the wild]are perfect,” an official said.
We are in severe drought down here – maybe they’re heading where the grass is greener?
