ROYAL OAK, Mich. – A 5-month-old wallaby has disappeared from the Detroit Zoo.
“It is a mystery to us. It’s a really tough situation for everybody here. We’ve never had this happen before. It’s obvious that the little Wallaby didn’t escape. We can’t find an area he or she might have escaped,” said Detroit Zoological Society Chief Life Sciences Officer, Scott Carter.
Carter says Joey was last seen this past Saturday (May 7) evening.
“At this point, we’ve searched almost the entire zoo and we continue to search because we don’t know what happened,” Carter said.
READ: Detroit Zoo says 5-month-old wallaby joey has gone missing
With so much foot traffic, some may wonder if Joey was taken by a guest, but with volunteers everywhere you turn and a unique two-door system -- it’s not likely.
“He wouldn’t, and his mom wouldn’t have tolerated someone just walking up to them. They would have run away,” Carter said.
Although there is so much uncertainty, one thing is sure.
“It’s not going to live very long without its mom,” Carter said.
Each day that passes, joeys chances of survival become less and less.
“We can’t figure out how the wallaby Joey could have gotten out of the habitat and maybe it’s hiding somewhere nearby. But, as I said Victor, the hope is kinda dwindling every day,” Carter said.
Zoo officials are asking those living near the zoo to be on the lookout for Joey. Although it’s not likely, they’re hoping that Joey may still be nearby.
Currently, the zoo believes it’s likely an owl or hawk was involved.
Read: More Detroit Zoo coverage