Berlin, a city known for its vibrant nightlife, historic landmarks, and sprawling parks, found itself at the center of an unusual commotion this past weekend. On Sunday, September 28, 2025, residents in the southwestern district of Kladow, part of the city’s Spandau area, were startled by the sight of an unexpected visitor hopping along their streets: a wallaby, a marsupial native to Australia and a close cousin to the kangaroo.
The wallaby, standing about 90 centimeters (roughly 3 feet) tall, reportedly escaped from a private enclosure on Sunday morning, according to multiple reports from UPI and The Associated Press. The circumstances of its escape remain shrouded in mystery. As of Monday, September 29, the animal remained unaccounted for, leaving both authorities and locals on alert—and perhaps a bit bemused—by the ongoing marsupial manhunt.
It all began late Sunday morning, when passersby in Kladow spotted the wallaby bounding through the neighborhood. Eyewitnesses quickly notified Berlin police, who responded to the unusual call. Officers soon arrived on the scene, and what followed was a two-hour pursuit through the city’s leafy streets and wooded patches. The chase, however, proved fruitless. The nimble wallaby darted into a forested area, vanishing from sight and eluding capture.
Chief Inspector Martin Halweg, speaking to The Associated Press, explained that police efforts to apprehend the animal were hampered by a lack of specialized equipment. "Police don’t have special equipment for capturing kangaroos, only blankets or snares used to catch free-roaming dogs," Halweg noted. It’s not every day, after all, that Berlin’s finest are called upon to wrangle a marsupial.
Adding an extra layer of intrigue—and amusement—to the unfolding story, a bystander managed to capture video footage of the wallaby as it hopped down a dark Berlin street. In the video, the animal pauses to lick its paws while a woman’s surprised voice can be heard in the background. The video, which quickly made the rounds on Facebook and other social media platforms, was reportedly filmed around the time the wallaby was first reported missing.
As the sun set on Sunday, the wallaby’s trail had gone cold. Berlin police, after their lengthy but unsuccessful pursuit, decided not to continue tailing the animal. By Monday, September 29, authorities concluded that the wallaby did not pose an immediate threat to public safety. "Berlin police are no longer tailing the meandering marsupial because it’s not believed to pose a threat to public safety — for now," Halweg wrote in an email statement.
Despite the animal’s apparent harmlessness, police issued a set of recommendations for Berliners who might encounter the runaway wallaby. The advice was straightforward: keep your distance, keep an eye on the animal, and notify the authorities. "Berlin police recommend that if you see the animal, notify police or the Berlin Animal Catcher," Halweg advised. "They also advise keeping your distance and maintaining visual contact with the animal so that emergency personnel can approach it."
For Halweg, a veteran of more than 30 years on the force, the wallaby escapade stands out as a true oddity in the annals of Berlin policing. The chief inspector admitted he had never seen anything quite like it in his career. "Such cases are indeed very rare," he remarked, underscoring the novelty of the situation. In fact, Berlin police do not even keep records on lost animals—let alone wallabies—making this incident all the more unique.
German media outlets, citing police sources, confirmed that the wallaby was privately owned, but as of Monday, the details of its escape were still unclear. Was a gate left open? Did the animal find a weakness in its enclosure? Or was it simply a case of marsupial mischief? For now, those questions remain unanswered, adding an element of mystery to the story.
The Kladow district, where the wallaby made its bid for freedom, is known for its green spaces and proximity to the Havel River. It’s not the first place one would expect to find a creature more at home in the Australian outback. Yet, as odd as it sounds, Berlin is no stranger to exotic animal escapades. Over the years, the city has seen its share of wandering creatures—from escaped parrots to the occasional runaway goat—but a wallaby on the lam is a rare sight indeed.
The incident has sparked a mix of concern and amusement among locals. Some residents expressed worry about the animal’s welfare, given Berlin’s busy streets and unpredictable weather. Others, however, found humor in the situation, sharing memes and jokes online about Berlin’s "kangaroo problem." As one social media user quipped, "Only in Berlin would you go out for coffee and run into a wallaby."
While the wallaby’s fate remains uncertain, animal experts have weighed in on the possible outcomes. Wallabies are generally shy and non-aggressive, and given the city’s abundance of parks and wooded areas, the animal could conceivably survive for some time on its own. However, experts caution that the wallaby may struggle to find appropriate food and shelter, especially as autumn temperatures begin to drop.
Authorities continue to urge the public to report any sightings. With the wallaby still at large as of Monday, the search remains ongoing. Police, animal control, and concerned citizens are all keeping their eyes peeled, hoping for a safe and swift resolution to this marsupial mystery.
For now, Berliners are left with a story that is equal parts bizarre and endearing—a reminder that even in a city as bustling and cosmopolitan as Berlin, the unexpected can happen at any moment. As the city waits for news of the wallaby’s whereabouts, one thing is certain: it’s not every day that a piece of Australia comes hopping through the heart of Germany.
