At least three baby kangaroos have disappeared from Russian zoos within a week, raising suspicions of a coordinated theft. Authorities have launched criminal investigations into the mysterious disappearances, which occurred at zoos in the Yaroslavl and Kaluga regions.
The first incident was reported in the Yaroslavl region, northeast of Moscow, where a kangaroo born last winter went missing from its enclosure between Thursday and Friday. Local media reported that suspected thieves cut a security camera’s cable before taking the animal.
Just days later, two more six-month-old kangaroos were stolen from a bird park in the Kaluga region, southwest of Moscow. The park's owner, Alexander Belyavsky, said the thieves cut through the fence and entered the shed where the kangaroos were kept.
Authorities in both regions have opened criminal investigations.
Animal handler Edgard Zapashny speculated that the thefts could be linked, with the kangaroos potentially being stolen for a private collector, sold on the black market, or taken to be killed and stuffed.
Demand for Exotic Animals Increases
The incidents come amid rising demand for exotic animals in Russia, driven in part by sanctions limiting imports from the West. Kaluga-based journalist Yevgeny Serkin noted that zoos and private collectors may now be seeking alternative sources, increasing the appeal of such thefts.
Both zoos are hopeful for the safe return of the stolen animals, though their whereabouts remain unknown. Investigations are ongoing, with authorities urging anyone with information to come forward.
