Kangaroo captured after five days on loose in Boucherville
The animal was illegally obtained on black market. A lawyer representing animal protection groups is pushing for criminal charges against the owner.
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A kangaroo that escaped on Montreal's South Shore has been captured and is now in the care of Granby Zoo, but the incident has renewed focus on illegal exotic animal trafficking.
Joey the kangaroo was on the loose for five days before being captured in Boucherville on Tuesday. The owner was found to lack the required licence or permit—a serious violation.
Frédéric Bérard, a lawyer representing the Galahad SPCA, told CityNews the owner obtained Joey through the black market, a lucrative trade for exotic animals. According to Bérard, a kangaroo can sell for around $5,000 on the illegal market.
Bérard is calling for criminal consequences and a broader investigation into the black market's operations. "I would certainly use the situation...to have a better idea of how it works, that black market," he said. He argues the ministry should investigate where the owner purchased the animal and work to stop trafficking before more exotic animals end up in inappropriate hands.