By Jesse Graham
Residents are being warned to give kangaroos a wide berth if they enter properties over summer, after an all-day campaign to subdue a large roo on a Healesville street.
At about 8am on Monday, 16 January, Michael Meinhold and Helen Calvert noticed a large kangaroo at the top of their driveway, in a small grassy patch on Symons Street.
Though Ms Calvert did not see the kangaroo initially as she picked up the morning paper, she quickly realised and, when the kangaroo had not budged after 45 minutes, called wildlife rescuers.
However, it wasn’t until 1.20pm that, with the help of Healesville Police, Healesville SES, residents and Healesville Sanctuary staff, the kangaroo was tranquilised, wrapped up and taken away to the sanctuary.
“We thought we better do something – we were worried if it hopped off, it’d get onto the road or get hit by a car, or spook a driver or something like that,” Ms Calvert said.
Symons Street runs adjacent to Church Street and Green Street, close to Healesville’s main street and shopping area.
The tranquilising followed failed attempts to capture the animal in a net, and the sanctuary sent out staff with a dart gun.
Healesville SES Controller, Geoff Stott, said in similar circumstances, it was best to leave the animals be and let them leave of their own accord.
“If they got left alone, it would have stayed there all day and maybe eaten the lawn … and then he would have just hopped off,” he said.
“He would have found his own way home.”
