The kangaroo which was on the loose on Montreal’s South Shore for the last few days was caught Tuesday, according to Galahad SPCA.
In a Facebook post Tuesday, the animal protection agency said, the kangaroo, which had earned the nickname Joey, was being taken to the zoo in Granby.
“Joey is now fast asleep and on his way to the Granby Zoo,” Galahad wrote on Facebook. “We wish him a peaceful future in a sanctuary, surrounded by other animals like him and receiving the care he needs.”
“Have a safe trip, little Joey. Thank you for raising awareness among so many people about the reality of exotic animals. We hope you finally find the safety and peace you deserve.”
The small marsupial had been spotted on the South Shore after it likely escaped from illegal captivity, say animal rights advocates and Quebec’s Environment Department.
People took videos of the animal hopping around a field in Boucherville, Que., and posted them online Friday causing a social media buzz.
However, the incident also raised concerns about illegal trafficking of exotic animals in Canada, says Chamie Angie Cadorette with SPCA.
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A quick online search reveals dozens of listings for exotic animals for sale in Quebec, including declawed wildcats, Cadorette said in an interview Monday.
“I could have got hold of a monkey for $9,000, a kangaroo for $6,000. There are turtles, there are snakes — you name it,” she said. “It’s a very lucrative trade, the illegal sale of exotic animals.”
Cadorette says her organization received a call last week from a concerned citizen who had noticed the animal while visiting a horse stable in the area.
Quebec requires special permits to keep wild and exotic animals in captivity, including kangaroos and wallabies.
— With files from La Presse Canadienne
