Durango police ‘arrest’ red kangaroo after a ‘hop pursuit’

DENVER ( KDVR ) — Residents of Durango are prevented from owning monkeys, tigers, elephants, bears and wolves, but there’s one animal that’s not illegal to own: Red kangaroos .

One such animal was found on the loose on Main Street in Durango recently, leading to a “hop” pursuit as officers sought to safely capture the joey and return it to its owners.

Three Durango police officers wrangled the little marsupial safely and returned the pet to its owner after the “arrest.”

“We let him off with a warning, but did talk with him about the dangers of wandering aimlessly in the street and curfews for under 18 years of age,” the Durango department joked on Facebook.

Red kangaroos are the largest of their species and are native to Australia. Male red kangaroos can grow to around 7 feet, including their tail, and female red kangaroos can grow to similar heights, according to the Australian Museum.

The unexpected encounter also spurred the department to start making quips and questioning whether the department could obtain a kangaroo, too.

“There’s been some brainstorming on how we can get the Chief to approve one,” the department posted in a comment reply on Facebook. “Emotional support kangaroo? Drug sniffing kangaroo? Search and rescue roo? The possibilities are endless.”

Perhaps the office could get an emotional support kangaroo, who hops throughout the office.

For some, the video left them wanting more, asking whose kangaroo it was and if they could cuddle with it. Others bequeathed the marsupial with a nickname: The Durangaroo.

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