Kangaroo escapes Wisconsin petting zoo, found after 3-day search

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A 16-month-old kangaroo named Chesney escaped from a petting zoo in Necedah, Wisconsin last week after being spooked by stray dogs that rushed his enclosure. Chesney scaled an 8-foot fence and went on the run for three days, prompting a search by his keeper Debbie Marland and local residents to track down the missing marsupial.

Why it matters

Kangaroo escapes from petting zoos are relatively rare, making this an unusual and newsworthy incident. The story highlights the challenges zoos and animal caretakers face in keeping exotic animals secure, as well as the community effort required to locate and safely return a missing animal.

The details

According to Debbie Marland, Chesney's keeper at Sunshine Farm in Necedah, the kangaroo was spooked by stray dogs that rushed his enclosure, causing him to scale an 8-foot fence and escape. Marland and friends then spent the next three days searching the area to try and locate the missing kangaroo.

• Last week, Chesney escaped from his enclosure at Sunshine Farm in Necedah, Wisconsin.
• Chesney was on the run for three days before being located and returned to the petting zoo.