By JESSE GRAHAM
A KANGAROO was released into the wild on the weekend, after suffering minor injuries when it became trapped in a Healesville pool.
The 45-kilogram male grey kangaroo, jumped the fence of a Fernbank Road property and ended up in a pool where it was stuck for over an hour on Thursday 24 April, before homeowner Jenny Low discovered it.
A Healesville Sanctuary spokesperson said the kangaroo might have been in the pool for a number of hours, as the owner was out, and Wildlife Victoria’s Manfred Zabinskas rescued the animal with help from neighbours.
Worries were raised about the animal possibly contracting pneumonia due to its long dip in the pool, and Sanctuary workers and Mr Zabinskas helped restore the kangaroo’s body temperature.
Hot water bottles, hair-dryers, wool blankets and heat-packs were used to help the kangaroo, who also had bleeding paws and damaged claws from trying to get out of the pool.
A Sanctuary spokesperson said the dunked and distressed kangaroo had been nicknamed ‘Duncan’.
The animal was kept for two nights for observation, before being declared healthy and released back into the wild on Saturday 26 April.
