Wildlife officials remove kangaroos from animal sanctuary after escape

Kangaroo was missing in rural Palm Beach County for several days

JUPITER FARMS, Fla. – State wildlife officials have removed seven  kangaroos from a Palm Beach County animal sanctuary after one of the animals escaped this week.    

Carollyn Parrish, a spokeswoman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conversation Commission, said the  enclosures at the sanctuary were deficient and contributed to the kangaroo's escape. 

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The kangaroos are being held at another licensed facility until the sanctuary's owner, Eric Westergard, repairs the enclosures, Parrish said.  

One of Westergard's kangaroos escaped  from its pen during a storm on Monday night. The 45-pound buck, named Storm, was found by a volunteer Thursday after an extensive search. 

A video of the 5-year-old kangaroo went viral Tuesday after a woman filmed the animal hopping along a rural road in Jupiter Farms.

The massive search included officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Florida Highway Patrol. Drones and K-9 units from the Tequesta Police Department also searched for Storm.