30-5-2024 (BANGKOK) The daring escape of a female red kangaroo from Chiang Mai Zoo has come to a tragic end, as the two-year-old marsupial was found dead in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park on Thursday afternoon. The discovery brought closure to a high-profile search operation that had gripped the city since the kangaroo’s brazen flight from captivity on Wednesday morning.
Park rangers and staff from Chiang Mai Zoo made the grim discovery of the kangaroo’s carcass in the Huai Chang Khian stream at around 2:30 pm, according to Kritsayam Kongsatree, director of the Protected Areas Regional Office 16 in Chiang Mai. The location where the lifeless body was found was approximately 1.8 kilometers away from the zoo premises.
The kangaroo’s daring escape had unfolded on Wednesday morning while keepers were cleaning its cage and preparing meals for the animals in the Australian zone. Initial sightings of the marsupial hopping uphill towards Doi Suthep mountain had triggered an extensive search operation, which was temporarily suspended on Wednesday night after rescuers found footprints and blood stains.
With renewed vigor, the search resumed and expanded on Thursday morning, ultimately leading to the tragic discovery of the kangaroo’s carcass in the national park’s stream. Wutthichai Muangman, the director of Chiang Mai Zoo, speculated that the kangaroo likely drowned due to the challenging terrain surrounding the stream, which was lined with boulders and thick vegetation.
According to Muangman, small scratch marks were visible on the carcass, but there were no significant wounds or bite marks, suggesting that the kangaroo was not attacked by predators. The steep banks of the stream, coupled with the slippery boulders and dense foliage, likely created an insurmountable obstacle for the kangaroo, causing it to accidentally fall into the water and drown.
While the discovery of the kangaroo’s carcass brings a sense of closure to the search efforts, it also serves as a somber reminder of the risks and challenges faced by animals in captivity. The incident has captured the attention of the local community and highlighted the need for enhanced security measures and safety protocols within zoo facilities.
