1963 S.F. Examiner Manuscript 'Wallaroo' Map of Lake Merced, San Francisco

The day the Wallaroo ran amok.

A 1963 manuscript map produced by the San Francisco Examiner staff in preparation for publication, chronicling the strange case of Weldon the Wallaroo, an escapee from the San Francisco Zoo.

A Closer Look

The map covers the southwesternmost portion of San Francisco around Lake Merced, including the Zoo and adjacent neighborhoods (Ingleside, Parkmerced, Ocean View, Outer Mission) to the east. Locations marked with X's and numbered list the sightings of Weldon following his escape from the Zoo on Friday, May 31, 1963. As the animal posed no threat to the public, police were informed to try to corner it until zoo staff could arrive to corral the animal. However, as wallaroos (close relatives of kangaroos but smaller) are excellent runners and jumpers, the animal was never captured. The amusing story was picked up by newspapers as far away as Spokane, Washington, and Sarasota, Florida.

No one knows what became of Weldon; as wallaroos eat a diet of plants and leaves, the animal could survive in the wild indefinitely. He appeared to be gradually making his way towards Daly City, and one of the last newspaper articles mentioning him (June 23, 1963) suggests that he likely made for San Bruno Mountain, a state park southeast of the area seen here that would be a suitable habitat for a wallaroo.

Publication History and Census

This manuscript map was a draft prepared for publication in the San Francisco Examiner, appearing in the Sunday, June 9, 1963, edition. The printed version of the map with some of the article text appears on the verso. As a manuscript map, this is a unique item.

Condition

Good. Manuscript on wax paper. Some discoloration on left border. Two pages merged along vertical line on right side. Some handwriting and loss along lower margin. Text one verso.