Runaway circus kangaroo on the loose Wed Jul 19, 9:17 AM ET
DUBLIN (Reuters) - A kangaroo is roaming the green hills of Ireland after escaping a circus near the picturesque port of Kinsale.
"This kangaroo broke loose just before the show while they were bringing him from the cages to the arena. He decided to take a walk," said local farmer John Walsh on whose land the 2-year-old male, named Sydney, made his break for freedom.
Circus staff launched a fruitless four-hour search following the escape on Sunday.
There had since been one unconfirmed sighting of the animal, renamed "Hoppy" by locals and described as two and a half to three foot (76 to 91 centimetres) tall and dark in colour.
"He would be happy out there and he'll have plenty of grass, plenty of water and plenty of sunshine," Walsh told Reuters on Wednesday as Ireland basked in near record temperatures more typical of Sydney's native Australia than Ireland's temperate maritime climate.
