VIDEO: Police release footage of kangaroo capture in Oshawa
Published December 5, 2023 at 1:23 pm
New video footage showing the kangaroo capture in Oshawa has just been released.
The kangaroo escaped its handlers while being transferred to stay overnight at the Oshawa Zoo on the way to a zoo in Quebec on Nov. 30.
People spotted the kangaroo hopping in fields and alongside roadways in north Oshawa. But Durham Regional Police officers finally captured the wayward marsupial early Monday (Dec. 4) morning.
Officers responded to a call for a kangaroo sighting and found it in the area of Wilson Road North and Winchester Road East in north Oshawa, and grabbed it by the tail. Police said they “tailed” her for about an hour before they managed to get close enough to grab her by the tail and secure her.
“Fortunately, our officers had a crash course in kangaroo and were made aware that grabbing her by the tail was the safest, most effective way to secure her,” Durham Regional Police said in a press release.
Even after three days on the lam, the kangaroo still had enough energy to punch one officer in the face. The officer was not seriously hurt.
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And today (Dec. 5), out of public interest, Durham Regional Police released police body-cam footage of the capture.
“Over the last three days, the escaped kangaroo has hopped into the hearts of many – all hoping for her safe return. Due to the high level of public interest, DRPS is releasing the body-worn camera footage,” police said.
But they add a disclaimer.
“The entire incident was not recorded – currently officers are not required to activate their cameras for interactions with kangaroos as per the DRPS directive (currently under roo-view),” police joked.
Joking aside, police said the camera recording of the kangaroo was triggered when it nudged one of the responding officers.
The footage shows officers holding the kangaroo by the tail as they slip a leash over its neck. Then, there appears to be a struggle.
Police then take the kangaroo into a waiting police cruiser equipped for the K9 unit. She is reportedly doing well.
“These officers went above and beyond ‘roo-tine’ duty in securing the kangaroo. She was returned to the zoo and will make a full recovery,” police said.
Although there was one report that suggested the kangaroo’s name is Nathan and there seem to be differing reports on the gender, Durham police say the kangaroo is female and doesn’t have a known name.
“Since this little joey took a ride in one of our K9 vehicles, we’ve decided to make her an honorary member of the K9 Unit and find her a fitting ‘unofficial name’. Combining the names of the two officers who rescued her, DRPS welcomes Police Service ‘Roo’ Emy May,” police say in the release.
The experience also gave police a crash course on kangaroo capture.
Here are a few other things police learned:
- Kangaroos are the largest marsupials on Earth and can reach heights from between 3 – 8 feet and can weigh between 40 and 200 pounds
- Comfortable hopping speed is 20-25 km/hr but speeds of up to 70km/hr can be attained over short distances
- They are more active at night
- They’re left-handed
- Some can hop 25 feet
- They use their tails as a fifth leg – grabbing it by the tail is the safest way to “catch” it