Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Coronavirus: Kangaroos return to empty streets of Australian city centre

‘Protective Security Officers tracked a suspect wearing a grey fur coat hopping through the heart of the Adelaide CBD,’ force jokes

Zoe Tidman
Monday 20 April 2020 18:49 BST
Comments
Kangaroo hops through empty Australian town during coronavirus lockdown

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A kangaroo has been spotted hopping through the streets of an empty Australian city during the country’s lockdown over the coronavirus pandemic.

Police shared footage of the animal travelling next to a deserted pavement in Adelaide, and running into just one car in the city centre.

The kangaroo then hops over to an empty park in the video posted by South Australia Police.

“Protective Security Officers tracked a suspect wearing a grey fur coat hopping through the heart of the Adelaide CBD,” the force joked.

“He was last seen on foot heading into the West Parklands.”

In Australia, people can only go outside if it is essential — for example, to get food or go to work — in a bid to tackle the spread of coronavirus, which has infected more than 6,600 people in the country to date.

Animals have been spotted roaming around in public in other countries — including deer running through streets and an alligator strolling through a shopping centre in the US — while people have been ordered to stay at home.

Mountain goats have also been seen wandering around a Welsh town and nibbling on residents’ hedges during the UK lockdown.

Australia has been enforcing social distancing measures to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, banning public gatherings of more than two people and placing restrictions on movement.

Restaurants, bars and other “non-essential” businesses have closed.

Scott Morrison, the Australian prime minister, said last week there would no easing of Australia’s restrictions for at least another month.

He said the rules would not be relaxed until national testing capacity has been increased, contract tracing of known Covid-19 cases expanded, and a response to any future outbreak fully prepared.

The number of confirmed infections in Australia stood at 6,606 on Monday, while 69 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died in the country to date.

Additional reporting by Reuters

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in