Rare tree kangaroo goes missing
The National, Copyright 2000
November 22, 2000
By PETER KORUGL
A BABY tree kangaroo, which was part of an international breeding group, has gone missing from its home in Lae, Morobe Province.
The tree kangaroo was bred at the Papua New Guinea University of Technology's Wildlife Habitat.
The habitat has warned that the tree kangaroo, a protected species, could be offered for sale to unsuspecting buyers in Lae.
The 10-month old Matschie's tree kangaroo was believed stolen from its pen on Nov 6 and has been missing since.
The Wildlife Habitat has offered a reward for its return.
The baby tree kangaroo was born in captivity at the Wildlife Habitat where it was kept with its mother and two other siblings, one of which was still in the pouch.
Named Matak, it was the second tree kangaroo that was bred in captivity.
"This animal forms part of an international breeding group and was registered. We would like to get it back," Peter Clark, the Manager of Wildlife Habitat said.
He said the Wildlife Habitat is an affiliate of many zoos around the world and they record births of tree kangaroo species.
Mr Clark said the intruder is believed to have climbed over the fence and into the cage where the tree kangaroos were kept.
He said the intruder may have intended to catch the big kangaroos but was unable to do it so instead took Matak.
Mr Clark said it was possible that the thief could be trying to sell the stolen tree kangaroo to unsuspecting clients in Lae.
He said whoever stole Matak could not sell it because he would be breaking the law.
"We keep three species here. Papua New Guinea has six of the 10 tree kangaroo species," Mr Clark said.
He said that the tree kangaroos are found in the Huon Peninsula.
Mr Clark said Matak was fitted with a tiny electronic device in the skin, which will help to identify it but the signals were too weak for it to be traced.
"We want it back. A reward is offered for information leading to her recovery," Mr Clark appealed in The Reporter, the newsletter produced by the PNG University of Technology.
Mr Clark said it was possible that the female baby tree kangaroo could have walked out of the cage but there were no signs of it around the Habitat.