What started as a quiet day at a Wisconsin petting zoo quickly turned into a full-blown community search effort — all thanks to one adventurous kangaroo with a surprising ability to clear an eight-foot fence.

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Chesney, a 16-month-old kangaroo living at Sunshine Farm in Necedah, made headlines after escaping his enclosure and spending three days on the run, sparking concern, determination, and eventually, relief across the local community.

The dramatic escape unfolded on March 25, when Chesney was startled by barking dogs near his outdoor enclosure, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Spooked and acting on instinct, the young marsupial did something few expected.

He scaled the enclosure wall and leapt over an eight-foot fence, disappearing into the surrounding area.

For owner Debbie Marland, the moment quickly turned from confusion to worry.

Chesney had never been outside on his own before — and the risks were obvious. “I was trying to help him, but I couldn’t. And, it was killing me,” she told the Journal Sentinel.

What followed was a frantic, “long and hard” search effort that stretched across multiple days. Local residents, volunteers, and even drone operators joined the hunt, determined to bring the missing kangaroo home safely.

At one point, a heat-seeking drone picked up a promising lead around 1 a.m., prompting a coordinated search party.

“We formed a little search party for him,” Marland said.

Eight people split into groups and attempted to circle the elusive roo — but Chesney had other ideas.

“Unfortunately, Chesney had other plans and was way quicker than us,” Marland shared in a Facebook update. “We came real close. One of the people dove onto him, and he snuck out of the grip.”

Even as daylight returned, the search continued.

Marland herself spent hours walking through wooded areas, calling out and hoping for a sign — but for a while, there was nothing.

“We couldn’t find him,” she admitted. Then, in a moment that felt almost surreal, everything changed.

As the search group regrouped near their vehicles, Chesney suddenly reappeared.

“Out of nowhere here comes Chesney,” Marland said, still processing the moment. “He hopped right to my truck. Voila! He just appeared out of thin air.”

What followed was a careful and emotional rescue.

Chesney, now calmer, approached the group as they spoke gently to him to keep his stress levels down. Farm worker Stacy — someone familiar to the kangaroo — slowly moved closer.

The interaction was almost affectionate. Chesney sniffed her and “put his nose to her face, like he was going to give her a kiss,” Marland recalled.

Moments later, Stacy lifted him into her arms — and the tension of the past three days finally broke. “We were just hugging and crying when we put him in the car,” Marland said.

Just like that, Chesney’s “little 72-hour adventure” was over.

Despite the ordeal, the kangaroo returned home in remarkable condition.

“He looks extremely healthy,” Marland said. “Clean, no cuts, no scrapes, no nothing. Has a good appetite. Going to the bathroom.”

Back in familiar surroundings, Chesney quickly settled back into his unusual but comfortable routine.

From sleeping in a bed to watching TV and even enjoying treats like strawberry shakes after visits to nursing homes, life at Sunshine Farm is far from ordinary. “They’re living the posh life,” Marland said.

Featured image credit: Sunshine Farm – Necedah (screenshot)