Kangaroo 'Joey' caught by Quebec Environment Ministry after days on the loose

Kangaroo 'Joey' caught by Quebec Environment Ministry after days on the loose

The marsupial likely escaped illegal captivity, Environment Ministry says

The marsupial that has been on the loose on Montreal's South Shore has been caught by Quebec's Environment Ministry teams Tuesday afternoon.

He was sedated and placed in a Granby Zoo ambulance from the Granby Zoo — his new home.

"We wish him a peaceful future in a sanctuary, surrounded by other animals like him and receiving the care he needs," wrote the animal protection agency Galahad SPCA.

"Safe travels, little Joey. Thank you for raising awareness among so many people about the reality of exotic animals."

Earlier today, the ministry said the animal did not pose a "significant danger to the public" while it was in the wild.

It also maintained that the survival of the kangaroo — which likely escaped from illegal captivity — in the wild is not at risk during the summer months.

But Frédéric Bérard, a lawyer representing Galahad SPCA, argued the animal did not have much time to survive when he was on the loose.

"He can easily get hit by a car, that's for sure. Maybe he can get eaten by a coyote," Bérard said on CBC's Daybreak radio show Tuesday morning.

He also criticized Quebec's Environment Ministry for what he considered a slow response.

"It's very upsetting," he said.

"[If you spot the animal,] I would say, 'Just call the ministry.' But to do what? They don't do nothing."

The marsupial, nicknamed Joey — infant marsupials are also known as 'joeys' —, was spotted hopping through a field in Boucherville, Que., in videos posted online Friday.

The Environment Ministry confirmed on Tuesday afternoon to Radio-Canada that it is indeed a kangaroo and not a wallaby, as some had initially assumed.

He escaped from a stable in the city, according to Radio-Canada.

Quebec says public should keep distance

Before its capture, in a statement to Radio-Canada, the Environment Ministry said it was assessing the situation to determine "the safest way to recover the animal" while minimizing risks to both the animal and the public, particularly vehicles.

"Acting quickly does not mean acting effectively," wrote the Ministry. "A hasty intervention can jeopardize the capture ... It can endanger the animal's life."

The government said it was important for people to avoid approaching the animal so that it remains in the area where it is currently located.

The Ministry added that though the investigation is ongoing, based on the information available so far, it appears that the animal was being kept illegally in facilities that "do not comply with Quebec regulations."

The case highlights the issue of illegal trafficking of what is referred to as exotic animals in Canada, according to Chamie Angie Cadorette who works for Galahad SPCA.

In an interview with The Canadian Press on Monday, she said a quick online search shows dozens of listings for 'exotic' animals for sale in Quebec.

The province requires special permits to keep wild animals in captivity.

Hénia Ould-Hammou is a journalist with CBC Montreal. She previously completed an internship with La Presse after graduating from McGill University with a double major in political science and psychology. Hénia is interested in international and societal issues, community stories, soccer, politics and rap. Send her an email at henia.ould-hammou@cbc.ca

With files from The Canadian Press, CBC's Daybreak and Radio-Canada's Tout Un Matin