A petting zoo in the US has caused global public outrage after a video emerged of a kangaroo locked inside of a tiny cage. Amid concerns that it might be sedated, the animal walks back and forth inside the cage, occasionally pushing its nose through the wire.
The cage is located in an outside pen at the Connecticut event center, where weather conditions can be extremely cold, which a kangaroo is not used to. The matter has been reported to the country’s Agriculture Department.
Thousands of people have signed a petition calling on the sanctuary to release the animal and return it to its natural sunny habitat in Australia.
Kangaroos are marsupials with large, powerful hind legs adapted for leaping, and a long tail for balance. Kangaroos are from Australia and they are the only large animals to use hopping as a means of movement. These animals live in groups for protection and are natural pack animals in the wild. They live in dry and variable climates. Kangaroos are shy and, under normal circumstances, don’t present a threat to humans.
The petition states: “The roo [in the video] is in a small confined space and really should be with other kangaroos in its natural environment…I doubt it would be able to survive in the bush/wild now, so hopefully we can get it to a wildlife park or sanctuary in Australia.”
The document stated that the kangaroo was one of the many exotic animals being held captive at the zoo.
David Barritt, chief campaigner for Network for Animals said he was appalled by the video, and urged US authorities to act quickly.
“This is a very cruel way to keep a wild animal. Kangaroos cannot be kept in cages. They need to be in their natural habitat to survive. Visitors of the zoo should not be petting this animal. The NFA calls on authorities to investigate this situation and take appropriate action as soon as possible.”