A privately owned kangaroo escaped from its owner and got stuck in the pool area of a Tampa apartment complex. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office was able to rescue the marsupial.

On Thursday morning, the sheriff’s office received notice about the Australian animal hopping around.

“I guess police? There’s a kangaroo in my, uh, apartment complex,” the unnamed caller told the 911 operator, as heard in a video posted by HCSO on X.

The HCSO agricultural unit was able to corral the kangaroo by around 5:45 a.m., according to the Tampa Bay Times.

The kangaroo, named Hopper, was returned to owner Dunia Ramirez, as she has state permits to own her two kangaroos, Hopper and Jack.

Ms. Ramirez told WTVT-TV that this was the first time Hopper had escaped, thanks possibly to a worker doing renovations on her home leaving a gate open. 

Ms. Ramirez was thankful Hopper hopped the direction he did.

“I’m glad that he decided to go that way because I live next to a busy avenue and I know God was watching over him,” Ms. Ramirez told WTVT-TV. 

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.