Nino arrived in Rome before boarding another plane to Turin.
Behind the cuddly critter’s international adventure is a strange promise.
One year ago, Teresina Costamagna migrated to Australia.
Before she left Italy, she promised the children of the orphanage in her native Fossano that she would send them a kangaroo from Australia.
Upon her arrival in Sydney, Ms Costamagna began enquiring about how to fulfil her promise, but she soon found out that Australia’s strict laws on native fauna meant that a native animal could only be sent to an overseas zoo, and could never be privately owned.
But she wasn’t discouraged; eventually, she received confirmation from the zoo in Cuneo that they would be happy to have a kangaroo.
It was then organised for Nino to be transferred from the Taronga Zoo in Sydney to Cuneo, giving the children of the orphanage the chance to go and see their new Australian friend whenever they wanted.
Nino spent the trip in a large wooden enclosure, with plenty of food and water.
In the above image, Ms Costamagna is seen farewelling Nino before he boards the plane.
