5-Month-Old Wallaby Joey Is Missing From Detroit Zoo: Officials

ROYAL OAK, MI — A 5-month-old wallaby baby went missing from the Detroit Zoo on Sunday, zoo officials said. The joey was last seen by animal care staff at 5 p.m. Saturday.

"Immediately, animal care staff began searching for the little one," officials said. "Zoo staff is carefully examining the habitat and areas around it while also reviewing trail cameras and surveillance cameras all over the Zoo."

At five months old, the joey is just beginning the process of independence by spending time outside the pouch, but still needs nursing and time in the pouch, officials said.

"It is unlikely that the young wallaby can survive an extended amount of time away from the mother," officials said. "We are reviewing every potential scenario and remain hopeful this joey will be found unharmed."

The Detroit Zoo first shared the birth of the new joey on Friday, who they estimated to be between 5 and 6 months old, and was just starting to leave mom’s pouch for seconds at a time. Officials said they still needed a few weeks and months to determined whether the joey was a boy or girl.

The joey was just the third one born at the Detroit Zoo since 2010, after another joey was born in 2020.