Missing wallaby found near Walmart after escaping animal sanctuary
The search for one missing wallaby in New Jersey has ended with a hop-py reunion, an animal sanctuary said.
A 3-foot-tall wallaby named Rex was found safe near a Williamstown Walmart parking lot on Tuesday after he escaped the Lots of Love Farm earlier that day, according to the animal sanctuary and petting zoo.
Rex was spotted by volunteers who went out to search for him and called in his location, the sanctuary noted.
"If this just didn't become the best night ever! With the help of some really cool kids and a really cool dad. We caught Rex at the Walmart!! He is home safe and sound! Thank you, everyone, you're all amazing. He must really like Walmart lol," Lots of Love Farm said in a Facebook post.
The sanctuary announced the marsupial as missing early Tuesday, with a social media video saying "He is friendly but on the run."
Ron Layden, one of the owners of Lots of Love Farm, told local ABC station WPVI that Rex escaped when he was moved to a different enclosure due to the cold weather and "the cage didn't get all the way shut."
Klarissa Harper from Franklinville was one of the shoppers who saw Rex in the Walmart parking lot.
"I was just picking up milk for my little brother. My mom sent me here," Harper told WPVI. "And I'm leaving the parking lot, and I look over, and something's hopping in front of my car."
The Monroe Township Police Department also aided in the search for Rex, according to a social media post, saying that a detailed depiction of the wallaby was shared with all officers.
The department's Captain Kevin Bielski told ABC News that anyone who comes into contact with a wild animal, wallaby or not, should call local authorities first.
"We can quickly contact the owner or the appropriate resources to handle the situation safely. This is especially important in busy or high-traffic areas, where loose animals can create serious hazards for both motorists and the animal," he said.
According to Bush Heritage Australia, a nonprofit conservation organization, wallabies are animals endemic to Australia that share many features to kangaroos, but are much smaller.
"When threatened, wallabies may thump their feet and make a hoarse noise to sound an alarm to others. They can also deliver a forceful kick with their back legs -- a technique that’s also used by males when fighting each other," the nonprofit's website reads.
Upon Rex's return, Lots of Love Farm posted a photo of the marsupial in a blue Walmart vest and joked that he should be the retail giant's mascot.
The sanctuary did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment.
