Missing wallaby found dead in Minnesota

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SAVAGE, Minn., Oct. 29 (UPI) -- A pet wallaby that was missing for the last month in Savage, Minn., has been found dead in the Minneapolis suburb, its owner said.

Savage resident Denell Lund said her family's 3 1/2-year-old wallaby was found dead Wednesday, one day after the first sighting of the animal in 12 days, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Thursday.

Lund said the wallaby, an animal similar to a kangaroo, escaped from its pen a month ago and has initially spotted numerous times by local residents.

On Tuesday, a girl saw the wallaby named Waldo and Lund was able to catch a glimpse of the animal before it fled the scene.

"He seemed to be moving slower and looked like he had lost weight since the last time I saw him," Lund told the Star Tribune.

Lund said a local veterinarian suspects Waldo likely died of liver failure as a result of jaundice.

"I feel horrible," she said. "We always knew that this was a possible outcome. It's like losing a family member. But we know we tried. At least we have closure."