Wallaby Escapes from Sinclair Community College in Downtown Dayton

Kipper the wallaby hopped more than a mile through the city before being safely recovered by his caretaker.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:51pm

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of a wallaby hopping through a city street, with only hints of the surrounding urban environment visible in soft, warm pools of light and color, conceptually representing the unexpected and disorienting nature of the wallaby's escape.A wallaby's unexpected urban adventure captivated downtown Dayton, raising questions about the challenges of transporting exotic animals in public spaces.Today in Dayton

A wallaby named Kipper escaped from Sinclair Community College in downtown Dayton, Ohio, and hopped over a mile through the city before being located and recovered by his caretaker, Carolyn Reno, with the help of local police.

Why it matters

Wallabies are not a common sight in downtown Dayton, so Kipper's unexpected adventure caused quite a stir among local residents. The incident also raises questions about the safety protocols for transporting exotic animals and the potential risks they can pose if they escape into populated urban areas.

The details

Reno, the chair of Veterinary Technology at Sinclair, was bringing Kipper to show him to some high school students when he unexpectedly escaped from his crate. Kipper then hopped his way through downtown Dayton, covering an estimated distance of up to 5 miles before Reno was able to locate and safely recover him with the help of Sinclair and Dayton police.

  • Around 9:20 a.m. on April 10, 2026, Kipper escaped from his crate at Sinclair Community College.
  • Kipper was located and recovered by Reno in a bush behind the Job Center around 9:20 a.m. the same day.

The players

Kipper

A wallaby that was being transported by Carolyn Reno from Sinclair Community College.

Carolyn Reno

The chair of Veterinary Technology at Sinclair Community College who was transporting Kipper when he escaped.

Sinclair Police

The police department that assisted in locating and recovering Kipper after his escape.

Dayton Police

The police department that assisted in locating and recovering Kipper after his escape.

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What they’re saying

“For some reason, this time it was a little bit scarier and he kind of went into a fight-or-flight. And since he doesn't fight, he's a very docile creature.”

— Carolyn Reno, Chair of Veterinary Technology at Sinclair Community College

“He stopped, he paused, he looked back at me, and I said, Kipper, I don't think that's a good idea. I tried to call him back and he just took off.”

— Carolyn Reno, Chair of Veterinary Technology at Sinclair Community College

“He runs about between 30 and 40 miles per hour, so at that point on foot, there was nothing that I could do.”

— Carolyn Reno, Chair of Veterinary Technology at Sinclair Community College

“I was able to crawl in, talk to him, and keep him calm once I grabbed his paw. He really likes his little hand held. So, once I grabbed his paw and was talking to him, he really was calm. And then I was able to grab his tail, which is the way that you handle wallabies.”

— Carolyn Reno, Chair of Veterinary Technology at Sinclair Community College

What’s next

Sinclair Community College and local authorities will review their protocols for transporting exotic animals to prevent future escapes and ensure the safety of both the animals and the public.

The takeaway

This unusual incident in downtown Dayton highlights the potential challenges and risks involved in transporting exotic animals, even for educational purposes. It also serves as a reminder of the importance of having robust safety measures in place to protect both the animals and the surrounding community.