End the search efforts!
The kangaroo known for sporting denim diapers, who caused quite a stir with a daring escape from a small Wisconsin zoo, has been safely recovered. This adventurous marsupial was on the run for three days before being found on Saturday.
Chesney, the adventurous kangaroo, made his getaway from the Sunshine Farm petting zoo in Necedah, which is situated about 90 miles from Madison, WI. His escape on Wednesday involved a leap over an eight-foot fence followed by a swift disappearance.
According to Debbie Marland, Chesney’s caretaker, the local community rallied together in a heartfelt effort to locate the 16-month-old kangaroo. Their search efforts covered roughly 160 miles, with each participant logging over 37,000 steps daily.
Despite several sightings by volunteers during the search, Chesney, frightened and elusive, managed to evade capture time and again.
The search operation enlisted the help of heat-sensing drones over the course of his escapade, aiding ground teams in navigating his whereabouts during the three-day pursuit.
“It almost looked like a dinosaur running through the woods,” Colton Johnson, who owns Midwest Aerial Drone Services, said of one Chesney sighting.
The kangaroo was spotted on Friday night under a tree in a wooded area by a group of searchers, but once again, he escaped.
Marland and volunteers returned to the same area the following morning with Chesney’s favorite treats, but they were unable to find him.
As they began to pack up their search, they miraculously spotted the long-eared marsupial approaching.
“He had a very calm attitude when he walked up, obviously you could tell he wasn’t in fight-or-flight mode, so I just went with that,” said Marland’s friend, Stacey Brereton.
“I just stayed calm with him and I just kind of went and sat and let him come to me,” Brereton said.
Chesney heard the voices of the searchers and wanted attention, Brereton said, who was able to scoop up the little roo in her arms.
The critter’s keeper said “the community really did come together” for the 40-pound animal who has become a bit of a celebrity in their small town.
The kangaroo returned home hungry and tired, but was otherwise unscathed.
Marland said a new mesh top will be placed over Chesney’s enclosure to prevent any more prison-breaks from happening.
With Post wires
