Exploring Austria's Unique Wildlife: Are Kangaroos Found There?

Austria is often mistaken for Australia, and in September 2018, the confusion escalated as a kangaroo was spotted hopping about in the area of Hellmonsodt in Upper Austria. While the country is not home to kangaroos, which are indigenous to Australia, this was not the first sighting of the marsupial in the European nation. In 2015, a kangaroo named Anton escaped his owners and was found near Braunau, and in 2016, another kangaroo, possibly a pet named Paul, was spotted in the Muhlviertel region. While Austrians may be used to their country being confused for Australia, these kangaroo sightings certainly don't help matters!

Kangaroo sightings in Austria

Austria is not Australia, but you may be surprised to learn that kangaroos have been spotted in the European country. In fact, there have been several sightings of kangaroos in Austria over the years, with some even escaping captivity and roaming the country for extended periods.

Kangaroo on the Loose in Hellmonsodt

One notable incident occurred in September 2018 when a kangaroo of unknown origin was spotted hopping around in the area of Hellmonsodt in Upper Austria. The story made headlines and even caused confusion on the internet, with people unsure if it was a typo. Local police confirmed multiple sightings and launched a search for the kangaroo, but it remained at large. Authorities speculated that it could be a wallaby or a tree kangaroo, such as a Bennett kangaroo, which can tolerate cooler temperatures.

Escaped Pets and Zoo Animals

In addition to the mystery kangaroo of Hellmonsodt, there have been several other instances of kangaroos escaping captivity in Austria. In 2015, a kangaroo named Anton escaped from his owners and was found lost in the snow near Braunau. Another kangaroo, possibly a pet named Paul, escaped from its Bavarian home during a thunderstorm in 2016 and was spotted in the Muhlviertel region. That same year, a kangaroo escaped from captivity in Styria and evaded police for several weeks. These incidents have become somewhat of a recurring theme, with reports of kangaroos escaping every few years.

Wild Kangaroos in Austria

While most of the kangaroo sightings in Austria involve escaped pets or zoo animals, there have been some speculations about wild kangaroos in the country. In a Reddit post, a user mentions that their childhood friend who manages a hunting ground has reported kangaroo sightings for years. The friend suspects that the kangaroos have managed to breed and that it could become problematic in the next 5-10 years. However, this information is based on anecdotal evidence and has not been confirmed by official sources.

Kangaroos in Captivity

Aside from the escaped kangaroos, there are several zoos in Austria that house kangaroos. The Tiergarten Schönbrunn Zoo in Vienna, the Herberstein Zoo in Styria, and the "Weißer Zoo" in Kernhof are known to have kangaroos in their collection. Additionally, a small hut in Bad Vöslau, located about 35km south of Vienna, has a kangaroo enclosure with half a dozen kangaroos.

Austrians lament being mistaken for Australia

Austrians have often lamented being mistaken for Australians, as their country is located in Europe, not almost 9,000 miles away in Oceania. The two countries are separated by an ocean and a hemispheric divide, but their names are only separated by two letters, which can cause confusion. This confusion is further exacerbated by the presence of kangaroos, or at least sightings of them, in Austria.

Austria and Australia are not connected historically or geographically, and the similarity in their names is a coincidence. The name "Austria" comes from the High German "Ostarreich", meaning "Eastern Kingdom", while "Australia" comes from the Latin "australis", meaning "southern". Both names date back to the Proto-Indo-European language base and the word "ausōs", meaning "dawn".

Despite the phonetic similarity, the two countries could not be more different. Austria is a landlocked country in Central Europe, famous for its Alpine mountains, imperial history, and classical music heritage. Australia, on the other hand, is a large island continent surrounded by oceans, known for its unique wildlife, laid-back culture, and Indigenous history.

While the countries themselves are distinct, there is a significant population of Austrian Australians, or Australian citizens of Austrian ancestry. Many Austrian Australians can trace their history to ancestors who migrated during the gold rush of the 1850s, or who fled to Australia following World War I and the Nazi takeover of Austria in World War II.

Adding to the mix-up is the unexpected presence of kangaroos, or at least wallabies, in Austria. While kangaroos are indigenous to Australia, there have been multiple sightings of the marsupials in Austria, causing confusion among residents and authorities. In 2024, a kangaroo was spotted in the forests and meadows near Kirchschlag in northern Austria, and no one could determine its origin. It is speculated that it may have been an escaped pet, as Austria's tourist vendors sell a shirt that clearly states, "No kangaroos in Austria". However, in Bad Vöslau, a town south of Vienna, there is a restaurant with an actual kangaroo enclosure, blurring the line between the two countries even further.

Austrians spot a kangaroo in Kirchschlag

Austrians are used to their European country being mistaken for Australia—but this time, it wasn't a mistake. In September 2018, residents of the small town of Kirchschlag in northern Austria spotted a kangaroo in the forests and meadows near their homes.

A Mystery Marsupial

Police confirmed multiple sightings of the kangaroo over a weekend in September, but the mystery marsupial remained at large. "It sounds unbelievable, but it's true," a local police official told the news agency AFP. "We have called all the zoos and kangaroo breeders around us, but no-one is missing a kangaroo. We hope the owner will come forward," they added.

A Familiar Story

While this kangaroo took residents by surprise, it was not the first time such a marsupial had been spotted in Upper Austria. In 2015, local media reported sightings of a kangaroo that turned out to be an escaped pet from neighbouring Germany.

A Close Encounter

Ruth Kastner told ORF radio that she and her husband were driving when they spotted the "real, live kangaroo". "We thought: 'No, this is really real' - and it then hopped a bit over the meadow and then moved away from the road towards the forest," she said.

A Unique Attraction

It seems that while kangaroos are not native to Austria, you can find them there if you know where to look. In the town of Bad Vöslau, about 35km south of Vienna, there is a kangaroo enclosure behind a restaurant serving typical Austrian food. So, while Austrians may lament their country being confused with Australia, it seems there is a little bit of Australia in Austria after all.

Police confirm kangaroo sightings

Kangaroo on the loose in Austria

Police in Austria have confirmed multiple sightings of a kangaroo in the wild. The animal, which is native to Australia, was spotted by residents in the forest and meadows near the small town of Kirchschlag in northern Austria. While kangaroos are not typically found in Austria, there have been several reported sightings of the animal in the region in recent years.

A mystery marsupial

A local police official told news agency AFP, "It sounds unbelievable, but it's true." Authorities have been treating the animal as they would a runaway dog, and are working to locate the owner. "We have called all the zoos and kangaroo breeders around us, but no one is missing a kangaroo. We hope the owner will come forward," the official added.

A wild wallaby?

While the animal has been described as a kangaroo, it may actually be a wallaby, a smaller cousin of the kangaroo. A zoologist in the region has speculated that it could be a tree kangaroo, possibly a Bennett kangaroo, which can withstand cooler temperatures.

Previous sightings

This is not the first time a kangaroo has been spotted in Austria. In 2015, a kangaroo named Anton escaped from his owners and was found lost in the snow near Braunau. In 2016, a kangaroo, possibly a pet named Paul who escaped during a thunderstorm, was spotted in the Muhlviertel region. And in the same year, police tracked two kangaroos for weeks in Styria, in the southeast of the country.

A hopping mystery

The origin of the kangaroo remains a mystery, and it is unclear how it ended up in the wild in Austria. Locals and authorities are baffled by the sighting, and it has caused confusion and intrigue among residents and on the internet.

Austrians keep kangaroos as pets

In 2015, a kangaroo named Anton escaped his owner and was found looking lost in the snow near Braunau. In August 2016, a kangaroo, possibly a pet named Paul, escaped his Bavarian home during a thunderstorm and was spotted in the Muhlviertel region. In 2016, another kangaroo escaped captivity in Styria and evaded police for weeks.

In September 2018, a kangaroo of unknown origin was spotted hopping around in the area of Hellmonsodt and Kirchschlag bei Linz in Upper Austria. Police were unable to determine where the kangaroo came from, and it was never captured.

While kangaroos are native to Australia, it is not uncommon for Austrians to keep them as pets. However, it is important to note that keeping kangaroos as pets can be controversial, as they are not indigenous to Austria and may have specific needs that are challenging to meet in a domestic setting.

In addition to the escaped pets, there is also a small kangaroo enclosure behind a restaurant next to the Harzberg tower in Bad Vöslau, located about 35km south of Vienna.

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