With a hop, skip and a jump, the wayward wallaby who made headlines for his morning commute across the Sydney Harbour Bridge has been released back into the wild.
Nicknamed Sydney, after his city adventure, the male swamp wallaby stopped motorists in their tracks when he bounced along the bridge, the Cahill Expressway and then Macquarie Street in the early hours of 16 January.
Police captured the furry marsupial - with the help of former Wallabies captain Nick Farr-Jones who was on his way to work - and he was taken to Taronga Wildlife Hospital.
Taronga Zoo veterinarians released "Syd". Source: AAP
Senior veterinarian Dr Larry Vogelnest nursed the startled animal back to health and released him on Thursday into bushland at Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, north of the city, with the help of park ranger Rachel Miller.
"He settled down very quickly at the zoo in the hospital and seems to have a fairly chilled personality so hopefully he'll take it in his stride," Dr Vogelnest told AAP.
"We didn't really know where he came from originally so NSW National Parks and Wildlife have selected this site because there are other wallabies here, there is suitable habitat, lots and lots of space, and it's well away from any suburban areas or main roads.
The wallaby made international headlines. Source: AAP
"We need to make sure he doesn't get near a main road again."
Sydney, who has a characteristic chunk out of one of his ears from his past escapades, hopped happily to freedom but stopped to pose for the cameras and try out the flavours of his new home.
"He's definitely come from a wild place because he's eating the natural vegetation straight away," Dr Vogelnest said.
"Syd" has a new home. Source: AAP
Chief Inspector Kylie Smith said Sydney was not the "usual suspect" police expect to see in the middle of town.
"When I came to work the basement was empty, all the police cars were gone, and I thought 'wow, we've had some sort of major incident," she told AAP.
"When I checked our holdings I found out we had a wallaby on the Harbour Bridge."
Chief Inspector Smith reminded city slickers to respect the local wildlife and contact authorities for assistance.
