Baby kangaroo and four goats stolen from Wisconsin zoo

Jim Collar | The Post-Crescent

A baby kangaroo and four baby goats were stolen from a Wisconsin zoo last week, and the zoo's owners are worried the baby kangaroo may not survive.

The 5-month-old kangaroo was taken from its mother's pouch, according to Dona Wheeler, who owns Special Moments Zoo with her husband, Gene.

Dona Wheeler said that baby kangaroos depend on their mothers for the first year of their lives. In order to survive, the kangaroo must eat a special formula, Wheeler said.

It would die if simply given milk.

"We don't have any idea who would do something like that," she said. "It's very disgusting."

The Outagamie County Sheriff's Department is investigating the theft. Lt. Terry Hammen said Friday that deputies had no leads on the missing animals.

"There's not a lot to go on," he said.

Wheeler said they noticed the animals were missing on Tuesday while they were moving them to the zoo from their winter grounds.

A Facebook photo on the zoo's page shows several of the baby goats that were taken.

Wheeler said the mother kangaroo's pouch was outturned and she might not be able to have another baby.

Beyond the loss of the animals, the Wheelers are dismayed that someone would take from the place they've worked hard to create for children. The baby goats were to be a special part of the petting zoo and would offer children direct contact with animals.

Wheeler said they didn't have security cameras in the area and they never thought twice about telling people where they keep their animals during the winter months.

The couple says they plan to install security cameras now.

"I guess we were too trusting of people," she said.

Hammen said officers canvassed the area and interviewed employees of the zoo. They're also seeking any information from the public. Those with information are asked to call the sheriff's department at 920-832-5000.

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