Lost Kangaroo Roams German Countryside

Locals of small towns in western Germany have been surprised to see a kangaroo on the outskirts of their hamlets and even crossing their roads. Nobody knows where the exotic escapee came from -- but they hope that, when they eventually catch it, they can give it a new home in a local zoo.

Drivers traveling in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate are keeping a look out for a stray kangaroo. For around three weeks now, the kangaroo has been seen at various sites between the towns of Gerolsheim, Ebertsheim and Maxdorf near the western German city Mannheim.

Locals have seen the kangaroo lingering on the outskirts of the various towns several times. One policeman even saw it hanging out in a local sports ground, but nobody has been quick enough to catch the marsupial, the likes of which are indigenous almost exclusively in Australia. On Monday, it became clear the exotic escapee was on the move, as it crossed the A61 highway in the early evening. Surprised drivers spotted the kangaroo, including one woman who says she almost ran over the animal. Witnesses reported the sighting to the police, but by the time they had arrived it was too dark to track the elusive creature.