Two marsupials absconded on Saturday, but while one later returned of his own accord, the other remains on the loose.

“One of the fugitives is already back in prison,” said jail spokesperson Marketa Prunerová “however, the other is still on the run.”

Members of the public have been warned not to approach the felon. Warning that the animal may be injured, Prunerová stressed that only trained professionals should approach the kangaroo.

Kangaroos, and other animals such as roosters, rabbits and llamas, have been kept at the prison since 2018.

They were introduced as part of a pilot project aimed at helping inmates approaching the end of their term deal with anger issues. “The prison has very good conditions to implement special therapy courses, and these primarily involve farming and animal husbandry,” added Prunerová.

According to press reports, the duo are believed to have escaped after digging their way out of their enclosure.

Curiously, this is not the first time a kangaroo has made the Czech news in recent months. In December, an animal named Dobby returned to the Skalka Family Park, a private petting zoo close to Ostrava, a year after mysteriously vanishing.

The animal’s disappearance had baffled local authorities. With no sign of forced exit, the zoo’s owners had speculated that someone familiar with the park’s security measures had kidnapped the kangaroo.

“We don’t quite believe it, but this story has a happy ending,” wrote the zoo after being reunited with the animal. “The kangaroo, which was most likely released by its kidnapper, had been seen on the move and was hiding at night on private property in the village of Krasne Pole.”

After being spotted on CCTV, Dobby was eventually coaxed home by staff at the Skalka Family Park.