Australia Zoo: Urgent search launched after an animal makes an early-morning escape from the Beerwah zoo made famous by crocodile hunter Steve Irwin
Staff at one of Australia's most famous zoos are frantically searching for an animal that escaped from its enclosure through a drain in the early hours of the morning.
The wallaby managed to escape from the Australia Zoo, founded by the family of the late Steve Irwin, near Beerwah on Queensland's Sunshine Coast, about 6.30am on Saturday.
The animal reportedly escaped through the facility's main drain while staff were hunting for the animal.
Staff were seen outside the zoo grounds searching for the animal's whereabouts.
Ny Breaking Australia has contacted Australia Zoo for comment.
A Wallaby escaped from the Australia Zoo (pictured) on Queensland's Sunshine Coast early on Saturday morning
Queensland Police Service officers were called to Steve Irwin Way to respond to an 'animal-related' road hazard.
A Queensland Police spokesperson said Ny Breaking officers are in the area monitoring traffic.
“Police were called this morning to assist in locating an escaped wallaby from a zoo along the Steve Irwin Way,” the spokesperson said.
'The wallaby escaped from the zoo and headed west towards Steve Irwin Way.'
The police advise anyone who sees the animal to contact the zoo as soon as possible.
It is believed the wallaby escaped through a main drain at the facility, while zoo staff search outside the facility grounds for the animal (wallaby photo).
Australia Zoo – formerly known as the Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park – was made famous by crocodile hunter Steve Irwin.
Mr Irwin's family founded the popular park in the 1970s, where it became home to dozens of native wildlife.
The park is visited by approximately 700,000 tourists and locals annually and offers nature excursions, various exhibitions and approximately 1,200 animals.