Escaped wallaby roams free in Middenmeer, police hunt for owner

Police in Noord-Holland are searching for the owner of a wallaby that has escaped and is wandering loose in the village of Middenmeer, NH reports.

Authorities urged residents to keep an eye out for the small kangaroo-like animal but warned them not to try to catch it themselves. Police also alerted road users to drive with extra caution.

“I can imagine that cyclists and motorists do not expect this. So pay extra attention on the road,” a police spokesperson said.

Two animal parks in the region have confirmed they are not missing any wallabies, spokespeople told regional broadcaster NH. Officials believe the animal may belong to a private owner.

Dutch law prohibits taking on new wallabies as pets as of July 1, 2024. Individuals who already owned a wallaby before that date are allowed to keep the animal until it dies.