Video of kangaroo in tiny enclosure at US zoo sparks petition to bring it home
Hundreds of Australians have signed a petition to have a kangaroo travelling the United States as part of a petting zoo brought home to be in its natural environment.
Distressing video of the lonely animal inside a tiny cage at the XL Centre in Hartford, Connecticut, on March 31 was uploaded to Facebook after someone attending a Commerford Petting Zoo exhibit noticed it in distress.
The video has since sparked a wave of protest and inspired a Change.org petition for people to sign in support of the kangaroo being either released to a sanctuary in the US or flown back to Australia.
“The roo is in a small confined space and really should be with other kangaroos in its natural environment,” the petition, started by a woman named Danielle Le, read.
“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 page stated the situation had been reported to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), and local government representatives.
“I started this in the hopes to get the roo out of this environment, hopefully back to Aus (a long shot – I know),” Ms Le wrote.
“In the least, hopefully a sanctuary in America where there are other roos (if there is one that exists).
“If anyone has any further information about how this can proceed (legally), please comment in the relevant field below. I have contacted two places in Aus to hopefully receive some assistance.”
The movement followed the discovery of a kookaburra on sale in a pet shop in Virginia where the protected species was advertised inside a small cage for nearly A$1700.
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