Wallaby recovered after escape from Cape May County, New Jersey, zoo
Police and Cape May County Park & Zoo personnel have found a wallaby named Cletus that escaped from its enclosure overnight.
Tuesday morning, they were searching an area around Sandcastle Drive in the Cape May Court House section of Middle Township, New Jersey, not far from the zoo.
Around 10 a.m., authorities said they safely recovered the missing animal and were bringing him back home.
Middle Township Police and the Cape May County Sheriff's Office were involved in the search.
Authorities initially said the wallaby was a female before clarifying it is a two-year-old male.
Zoo officials are investigating how Cletus escaped from his habitat, according to a news release from the Cape May County Board of Commissioners.
"The Cape May County Park & Zoo maintains high standards for animal care and habitat security. While we are pleased with the safe and rapid recovery of Cletus, we will conduct a thorough review of this incident," County Commissioner Andrew Bulakowski, who has oversight of Park and Zoo operations, said in a statement.
Late last year, a wallaby named Rex was found safe in a Williamstown, New Jersey, Walmart parking lot after breaking out of his enclosure at Lots of Love Farm. A group of local teens helped with the search.