Kangaroo Escapes Farm and Causes Chaos on US Highway

(Patria) - Police in the US state of Alabama were forced to close a major highway after a kangaroo escaped from a nearby farm and caused a two-car collision.

While Australians might not bat an eye at seeing these animals on the road, the sight of one hopping down the middle of an Alabama highway caused chaos.

The kangaroo in question, a female named Sheila by her owner, usually spends her time in an enclosure where Patrick Starr and his family run a pumpkin patch and petting zoo.

There is no information on how she escaped. According to ABC News, police became aware of the escape as Sheila was hopping down Interstate 85.

The appearance of the kangaroo on the high-speed road caused a two-car collision, but fortunately, no one was injured.

Police closed both the northbound and southbound lanes of the highway, and Starr eventually managed to catch up to Sheila, calm her down, and return her to the farm.

"She's back home safe. She's awake. She's not sedated anymore. She's eating. She's drinking. She's not injured. She's a sweet pet. I'm glad she's home and I'm glad everyone slowed down a little bit," Starr said.

While Starr may consider Sheila a "sweet pet," not everyone agrees. The organization Humane World for Animals disagrees with keeping kangaroos in captivity.

"Kangaroos are strong, powerful animals and along with wallabies (close relatives) have been involved in at least 74 documented escapes since 2010 alone, resulting in at least 17 animal deaths," they told People.