Wally the wallaby recently made headlines after attempting to hop away from Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) deputies in Wadell, Arizona.
The bizarre yet humorous incident occurred on July 28 when the animal escaped its confines, leading to the nonprofit Farm Angels Sanctuary being summoned to assist in capturing the runaway marsupial.
Wally’s escapade began after a powerful windstorm damaged his enclosure gate, presenting him the opportunity to explore outside.
Responding to the call, Deputy Bytnar from District 2 arrived at the scene and spotted Wally near 167th Lane and Evergreen Road.
“I’ve got a little kangaroo, maybe about two and a half feet tall, going to be underneath the tree in the back corner,” Deputy Bytnar relayed as he approached the animal.
Recognizing the need for expertise in handling the unique situation, he requested additional resources to aid in capturing the agile wallaby.
An employee from the Farm Angels Sanctuary promptly arrived to collaborate with MCSO. The ensuing body-camera footage, shared on the agency’s Instagram page, revealed the efforts to safely detain Wally.
The deputies ultimately used a net to carefully corner the wallaby by a tree and introduced a cage into the area.
During the operation, Wally exhibited his remarkable jumping ability, leaping as high as one of the deputies standing nearby.
The coordinated efforts of the deputies and the Farm Angels Sanctuary employee eventually led to Wally’s successful containment within the cage, ensuring his safety. Subsequently, the wallaby was transported to the sanctuary.
Wally’s owner reached out to the Farm Angels Sanctuary shortly after the incident. Expressing concern for the well-being of the adventurous wallaby and his brother, Joey, they decided to relinquish the animals to the nonprofit. The brothers are now residing in a secure enclosure and have received necessary veterinary care.
The Farm Angels Sanctuary, located in Surprise, is renowned for its commitment to providing a permanent home to farm animals, including horses, cows, sheep, goats and pigs.
While owning wallabies is legally permissible in Arizona, the sanctuary advocates against keeping them as pets. They assert that wallabies are wild creatures that are best suited for their natural habitats and not domestic settings.
MCSO shared the footage of the heart-melting and humorous incident on their Facebook page, captioning it: “When our deputies say that no day is the same, they mean it! Deputy Bytnar from District 2 responded to a call about a kangaroo (wallaby) on the loose. With the help of Farm Angels Sanctuary, they were able to carefully catch the wallaby and bring it to safety. Take a look!”
