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Berlin’s Bouncing Bandit: Wallaby on the Loose in German Capital
BERLIN – Residents of Berlin are being asked to keep a watchful eye, and a safe distance, after a wallaby — a smaller relative of the kangaroo — made a daring escape and is now hopping freely through the city. While police initially pursued the marsupial, they’ve since backed off, stating it poses no immediate public threat.
The unusual situation unfolded late Sunday morning when passersby in Berlin’s western Spandau area alerted authorities to the runaway animal. Officers were dispatched to capture the wallaby, but the nimble creature quickly darted into a forest, eluding its would-be captors.
Chief Inspector Martin Halweg confirmed to The Associated Press that Berlin police are no longer actively tailing the wallaby. “We don’t have special equipment for capturing kangaroos, only blankets or snares used to catch free-roaming dogs,” Halweg noted, highlighting the unique challenge. He further advised that while citizens should report sightings, they should maintain visual contact but keep their distance, allowing emergency personnel to approach.
A video circulating on social media, reportedly showing the wallaby hopping down a dark street before pausing to lick its paws, appears to corroborate the animal’s escape around the time it was first reported missing.
German media outlets have reported that the wallaby, estimated to be about 3 feet tall, belongs to a private owner. The circumstances surrounding its escape remain unclear.
For Chief Inspector Halweg, who boasts more than three decades on the force, this is a first. “Such cases are indeed very rare,” he commented, underscoring the novelty of a wallaby on the loose in the German capital. Berlin police typically don’t keep records on lost animals, making this an even more exceptional event.
Should the wallaby be spotted, residents are encouraged to notify local police or the Berlin Animal Catcher, remembering to keep a safe distance.