Search continues for loose kangaroo in Oshawa after it escaped during pit stop at local zoo
Durham police confirmed that a delivery driver transporting two kangaroos to Quebec made a pit stop Thursday night at the Oshawa Zoo to “let the kangaroos stretch their legs” when one of the creatures escaped its handlers.
The search continues Saturday in the Oshawa area after a kangaroo was spotted hopping alongside roadways by passing motorists a day earlier.
At least two short clips of the escaped marsupial were posted online after motorists filmed the loose kangaroo bouncing through ditches during the early morning hours of Dec. 1.
In an email with the Star on Friday evening, Sgt. Joanne Bortoluss of Durham Regional Police Service confirmed that a delivery driver transporting two kangaroos to Quebec made a pit stop Thursday night at the Oshawa Zoo to “let the kangaroos stretch their legs.
“Unfortunately, during this break, one of the kangaroos managed to escape and has been sighted multiple times (Friday).”
Durham police are not actively involved in the hunt for the kangaroo, Bortoluss confirmed. Police issued an alert on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, earlier Friday saying a kangaroo had been spotted in the area of Harmony Rd. N. and Winchester Rd. E., and they warned against approaching it.
Cameron Preyde, the park supervisor at the Oshawa Zoo and Fun Farm who was aiding in the search of the kangaroo, told the Star in an email Friday that the searchers have a “very good idea of where the animal is.
“We don’t expect it to travel very far, if at all,” Preyde wrote, “We’re going to put in every effort tomorrow (Saturday) to get the kangaroo into a safe and warm environment tomorrow and make sure it gets as much delicious food and water as it wants.
“This incident absolutely sucks, but it’s wonderful to know that this incredible community is willing to come together to help,” he wrote. “This animal doesn’t belong to The Oshawa Zoo and that doesn’t matter.”
The search was halted overnight but resumed Saturday morning, Team Chelsea told the Star.
In one video, posted by Team Chelsea, a kangaroo, illuminated briefly by headlights, can be seen bounding alongside a vehicle. According to Team Chelsea, a lost pet search group, the kangaroo was spotted at 7:43 a.m. on the south side of Winchester Road heading westbound from Harmony Road.
In a second video provided to durhamregion by Landon Rellinger, a kangaroo can be seen hopping in a ditch while a red car keeps pace with the runaway animal.
“We thought it was a deer at first, but then we saw it hopping,” Paul Rellinger, driving while his son Landon shot the video. “As we got closer, we realized, nope, it’s definitely a kangaroo or something similar.”
Volunteers were scouring the area on Friday to locate and secure the furry fugitive after Team Chelsea began receiving calls about a loose kangaroo on Friday morning, said Janet Grixti, who runs the search group.
Grixti is appealing to the public to keep an eye out for the missing marsupial and to call Team Chelsea with any tips, as the organization is in contact with experts in dealing with exotic animals such as kangaroos.
But, she stressed, the public should not approach the wild kangaroo as they’re prone to kicking.
Team Chelsea can be reached at 905-666-4676.
“Absolutely, they can kick, and we don’t want anyone to get hurt or the kangaroo to get hurt,” said Grixti. “If you see it, do not approach it. Call us right away, and we’ll send help.”
She added that this is the first time Team Chelsea has been called in to help locate and rescue a kangaroo.
“We’ve helped save emus and lots of other different creatures, but this is a first for us,” said Grixti. “It’s not something you see every day.”
Grixti also stressed that the kangaroo did not escape from the Oshawa Zoo. She told The Canadian Press “we will not personally be securing the kangaroo” and police are advising anyone who spots the marsupial to stay away.
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