- Alabama resident Patrick Starr keeps Sheila the kangaroo as a pet.
- He had to tranquilize the native Australian to prevent it from hopping away.
- Traffic slowed to a standstill as local authorities pursued the animal.
Authorities in Alabama were forced to close down a major highway after a kangaroo escaped from a nearby farm and triggered a two-car collision. While Australians may be accustomed to seeing these hopping marsupials, seeing one bouncing down the middle of a highway in Alabama is very out of the ordinary.
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The kangaroo in question, named Sheila by her owner, usually spends her time in an enclosure where Patrick Starr and his family run a pumpkin patch and a petting zoo. There’s no word on how she escaped, but clearly, she was eager to enjoy it to the fullest, basking in the Alabama wilderness and imagining what life would be like if she were living free Down Under (Ed’s note: do kangaroos have an imagination? I have no idea, but still..)
Read: VW’s Kangaroo-Repellent Badge Sounds Too Good To Be True
According to ABC News, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency was alerted to the escape as Sheila hopped down Interstate 85. The sight of the kangaroo triggered a two-car collision, but fortunately, no one was injured.
Police closed down the north and southbound lanes of the interstate. Starr was eventually able to catch up to Sheila and tranquilize her before getting her back to his farm.
“She’s back home safe. She’s up. She’s not sedated anymore. She’s eating. She’s drinking. She’s not injured,” Starr said. “She’s a sweet pet. I’m glad she’s back home, and I’m glad everybody slowed down a little bit.”
While Starr may think Sheila is a “sweet pet,” the Humane World for Animals organization does not believe kangaroos should be kept in captivity.
“Kangaroos are strong, powerful animals, and along with wallabies (a close relative) have been involved in at least 74 documented escapes since 2010 alone, resulting in at least 17 animal deaths,” they told People.
Fun fact: There are estimated to be more than 35 million kangaroos living in Australia. That means roughly 9 million more kangaroos are living Down Under than there are people. After Sheila’s shenanigans, we hope Aussies who have any as pets (if it’s allowed) take extra care so they don’t flee as they would cause lots of trouble.
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