Australian wallaby stressed by Sydney bridge adventure released back to wild

SYDNEY, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Australian wallaby which was in a serious condition after suffering the stress of being spotted hopping along the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge last week has recovered and been returned to the wild, zoo authorities said on Thursday.

The male wallaby, which is similar to kangaroo but smaller in size, was taken to the city's Taronga Zoo on Jan. 16 after it was seen hopping across car lanes early in the morning. Police filmed the marsupial before it was caught, with the incident soon widely reported by local and international media.

The wallaby, "affectionately named Sydney," was released into a suitable location in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park north of the city, the zoo's Taronga Conservation Society Australia said in a statement to Xinhua.

Blood tests showed that the wallaby was suffering from "Capture Myopathy ... a common condition in kangaroos and wallabies exposed to stressful situations or prolonged exertion," the society said.

"The Wallaby made an excellent recovery in our care, eating within a day, which gave us hope that he would recover from his ordeal and be returned to the wild soon," Taronga Wildlife Hospital Senior Veterinarian Dr Larry Vogelnest was quoted as saying.

"We are very fortunate that Sydney features significant areas of bushland, which is vital habitat for wildlife. As a result, it's quite common to see wildlife in adjacent suburban areas," he said.

"It's important for Sydneysiders to have an awareness of wildlife, particularly on the roads and with their dogs and cats. I urge people to ensure their pets are managed so that they don't injure wildlife, and take extra care on the roads and look out for wildlife." Enditem