Kangaroo Hops Along A Detroit Street And Internet Goes Wild: Video

(Updated) DETROIT, MI — This happened: A man was captured on video Tuesday as he walked his leashed kangaroo down the street in Detroit. The internet, of course, loved it.

“Walked” is a term we use loosely. The kangaroo, named Darwin, was springing along Birchcrest Drive at a good clip, his owner sprinting along behind him. (Kangaroos are fast, capable of hopping about 44 mph when traveling at full bore and jumping 15 to 20 feet in the air).

What the kangaroo?

Darwin’s owner, Javon Stacks, told CBS Detroit the kangaroo needed to stretch his legs before entertaining at a children’s party. The kangaroo is among a menagerie Stacks keeps at his Exotic Zoo, which travels around the Midwest to schools, parties and other events.

“You have many inner city kids, they don’t have any transportation to the zoo, their parents don’t have the finances,” Stacks said. “So we perform at libraries and schools for free and through grants. We like to educate people.”

Stacks said his zoo is licensed by both the state and federal governments and that the animals are well treated. He reminds children that exotic animals don’t make good pets, he said.

Patricia Janeway, a spokeswoman for the Detroit Zoo, not only reinforced that, but also raised questions about how Stacks acquired the animal, indigenous to Australia.

“Unfortunately, this kangaroo likely was acquired through the exotic pet trade,” Janeway told CBS Detroit. “This is a good opportunity to remind your readers about the consequences of keeping an exotic animal as a pet. These animals require special care, housing, proper diet, health care and maintenance that the average person cannot provide.”

Detroit Animal Control said in an email statement that it is looking into the situation, but that it is illegal to own exotic animals in the city. Stacks did not say where he lives, only that he resides in Michigan, The Detroit News reported.

“DACC continues to work with partners such as Creature Conservancy to help provide proper care for exotic animals,” the statement read.

Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images Sport/Getty Images