A daring wallaby named Rex, who sparked a search after escaping from his sanctuary, has been safely returned home following a sighting outside a Walmart store in New Jersey.
The Great Escape from Williamstown
The audacious marsupial made his break for freedom on Monday night from the Lots of Love Farm animal sanctuary in Williamstown. His opportunity came when a gate to his barn was accidentally left unlatched, allowing the agile creature to hop into the night.
The Monroe Township Police Department joined the effort to locate Rex, advising the public to be vigilant. Officers were given a detailed description of the missing wallaby, though poor weather conditions hampered plans to deploy a drone in the search.
A Narrow Miss and a Walmart Discovery
The search took a dramatic turn when Rex was nearly struck by a vehicle at around 9:05 p.m. on Tuesday. His luck held, however, and he was later spotted about a mile from the sanctuary.
The crucial sighting came in the parking lot of a local Walmart, where a sharp-eyed mother and daughter recognised the unusual animal. They promptly contacted the Lots of Love Farm team, who rushed to the scene.
With assistance from some local children and their father, the sanctuary staff successfully recaptured the runaway. "He is home safe and sound!" the farm announced in a joyful social media post on Tuesday night.
Community Effort Outshines Official Search
In a humorous admission, the Monroe Township Police Department (MTPD) conceded that their efforts were outdone by the public. "Thanks to our local media, our officers are nationally recognised horse wranglers… but unfortunately, we haven’t quite earned the title of Wallaby Whisperers," the department wrote online.
They added, "We tried to assist last evening but were of little help... Rex is quick!" The successful recovery was entirely credited to the alert citizens.
Native to Australia, wallabies are mid-sized members of the kangaroo family. The Lots of Love Farm stated that Rex would be given a couple of days to rest after his escapade but would return to public view from Friday, 2 January 2026. A welcome home party for the adventurous marsupial is also planned for the coming weekend.
