WEIRD STUFF

400,000 KitKats stolen

GENEVA (AP):

Swiss food giant Nestle says about 12 tons, or 413,793 candy bars, of its KitKat chocolate brand were stolen after leaving its production site in Italy for Poland last week.

The company, based in Vevey, Switzerland, said in a statement Friday that "the vehicle and its load are still nowhere to be found."

The shipment of the crunchy bars, made of waffles covered with chocolate, disappeared last week while en route between production and distribution locations. The chocolate bars were to be distributed throughout Europe.

The missing candy bars could enter unofficial sales channels across European markets, the company said, but if this does happen, all products can be traced using the unique batch code assigned to individual bars.

A spokesperson for KitKat said that as a result, consumers, retailers and wholesalers would be able to identify if a product is part of the stolen shipment by scanning the on-pack batch numbers. If a match is found, the scanner will be given clear instructions on how to alert the company, which will then share the evidence appropriately.

"Whilst we appreciate the criminals' exceptional taste, the fact remains that cargo theft is an escalating issue for businesses of all sizes," KitKat said in a statement.

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Kangaroo makes daring zoo escape

A kangaroo has been found after he jumped a fence to escape a petting zoo.

After some stray dogs spooked 16-month-old Chesney last week, the creature scaled an 8ft fence at Sunshine Farm in Necedah, Wisconsin, last Wednesday, prompting keeper Debbie Marland and her friends to trek the local area in a bid to find him.

Debbie said: "I was putting on about 37,000 steps per day looking for him. I haven't done so much exercise in a very long time."

While Chesney stayed within a three-mile radius of the farm, no one had caught sight of the kangaroo on Friday, leading to fears he had headed further afield.

Fortunately, he was eventually discovered nestled under a tree but despite being surrounded by his would-be rescuers, the speedy kangaroo got away.

Debbie returned to the area the following morning armed with Chesney's favourite treats and a few pieces of material that held his and fellow kangaroo Kenny's scents, and he eventually approached.

Stacey Brereton, who helps on the farm, said: "He had a very calm attitude when he walked up. Obviously you could tell he wasn't in fight-or-flight mode, so I just went with that.

"I just stayed calm with him and I just kind of went and sat and let him come to me.

"I do believe he heard our comforting voices, he smelled the familiar smells of home and it just made him feel safe.

"I'm just glad he loves me as much as I love him."

Chesney returned home hungry and tired, but otherwise healthy, and Sunshine Farm are planning to add a new mesh top to the kangaroo enclosure to prevent further escape attempts.

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Stolen lion cub reunited with parents

A young lion that was illegally sold as a cub has been reunited with his parents.

Staff from The Wildcat Sanctuary in Minnesota had saved nine lions from a roadside zoo in Quebec, Canada, but discovered Kiros was missing from the pride, only to receive a surprising phone call a few months later.

A young lion, related to rescued creatures Kim and Carl was looking for a home and staff checked photos and records to confirm it was Kiros.

The cub had been seized by authorities and taken to an accredited zoo, where he remained for 18 months while legal proceedings involving the roadside facility were resolved.

The Wildcat Sanctuary staff made a 2,280-mile roundtrip to bring back Kiros -- which means Lord -- after securing international parents, and Kim and Carl watched curiously as he arrived back at the facility.

Tammy Thies, founder and executive director of The Wildcat Sanctuary, told People magazine: "From the moment we heard about the missing cub, we hoped we might one day find him.

"To discover that Kiros not only survived but could come to the sanctuary where his parents now live is incredibly powerful. Stories like this remind us why rescue work matters.

"Kiros' story highlights the cruelty of roadside zoos and the illegal pet trade.

"But it also shows what's possible when animal welfare organizations, accredited sanctuaries, and caring supporters work together to give these animals the lives they deserve.

"This is a new beginning for Kiros. After everything he's been through, he can now relax at his forever home."