A swamp wallaby who was spotted crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge is in intensive care at a wildlife hospital.
The Mounted Police Unit took the marsupial to Taronga Wildlife Hospital in a horse float where it was anaesthetised so it could be checked for injuries.
Early morning commuters saw the animal make its way from the bridge to the Cahill Expressway before it was captured by police outside the Conservatorium of Music.
Chatswood Police Inspector Kylie Smith held a press conference on Tuesday, saying officers experienced with animals carried the wallaby out of harm’s way.
The swamp wallaby was examined by Taronga Wildlife Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (pictured)
Taronga Zoo senior veterinarian Dr Larry Vogelnest said the marsupial is an adult male swamp wallaby (pictured)
Police (pictured with the wallaby) took the wallaby to Taronga Wildlife Hospital in a horse float
Taronga Zoo senior veterinarian Dr Larry Vogelnest said the marsupial is an adult male swamp wallaby, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.
‘I brought it into the treatment room and examined it thoroughly. Fortunately there didn’t seem to be any significant injuries; it had some minor grazes on its face and its hind legs,’ he said.
The wallaby was X-rayed for broken bones and will be monitored for the next 24 hours to see if he suffered stress-induced injuries.
‘These animals are quite susceptible to stress, and it causes muscle damage so I don’t know whether that’s happening,’ said Dr Vogelnest.
Dr Vogelnest said the wallaby will be released into an area with others of its species if no further complications are detected.
Inspector Smith said the wallaby was ‘extremely scared’ with cars passing it, and said it may have been stuck by a passing vehicle.
‘We utilised the mounted police in handling the animal and transporting it to Taronga Zoo. Because they are experienced with animals they were able to calm it down,’ she said.
The iconic marsupial was spotted on the bridge just before 5am, before a police car escorted it off the bridge.
Police responded to an unexpected call for assistance this morning after a wallaby was spotted crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Police were able to capture the wallaby after its epic journey across the Sydney Harbour Bridge
‘I was driving along the Harbour Bridge, I’m slowing down to 40 when I see a wallaby just sitting there, it was pretty small, might have been a wallaby,’ Jesse told2GB.
Another listener named Ray said: ‘There was a little rock wallaby in the middle of the road just minding its own business with a police care there with flashing lights.’
Other callers reported seeing the wallaby on the bridge, and described it as being small and about halfway up to the top of a car in height.
The wallaby made its way across the bridge and onto the Cahill Expressway (pictured)
A police car drove slowly behind the wallaby until officers were able to capture the animal near Macquarie Street
Drivers reported seeing a wallaby hopping its way down the road on the bridge before getting on the Cahill Expressway over Circular Quay
‘There was a police car following it at a slow pace, it was hopping down the street, that’s Australia for you!’ said Dean.
Traffic controllers from the Transport Management Centre tracked the wallaby as it made its way onto Macquarie Street, near the Botanical Gardens.
Police found the marsupial near the Conservatorium of Music and the Police Mounted Unit arrived to take it to Taronga Zoo for veterinary assessment.
Police believe the confused wallaby may have made its way to the bridge from a golf course in Cammeray, in the city’s north.