A kangaroo pulled from Lake Burley Griffin last month has been euthanased by a government veterinarian.
The kangaroo captured attention across the globe after video footage showing the rescue from the icy waters was shared.
The ACT Parks and Conservation Service responded to a call-out by the men who extracted the kangaroo on September 21.
But an ACT government spokesperson confirmed the animal, after being examined by a government veterinarian, was found to be in poor health and euthanased shortly after.
"The government veterinarian examined the kangaroo and found the animal to be in poor physical condition. Given significant concerns for the kangaroo's welfare, the animal was euthanased," they said.
"Capture myopathy, or muscle damage resulting from extreme exertion or stress, is always a primary consideration in any rescue of a kangaroo.
Nic Crowther — one of men seen in the video helping the kangaroo out of the water — said he was sad the roo had to be euthanased, but understood if it was "the best outcome for the animal".
"To pull an animal like that, of that size, out of the water and have it not really be aggressive in any way, kind of indicates that it wasn't in a great way," he said.
Mr Crowther said the men's actions had been driven by a desire to help the creature, who was "just sitting in there shivering".
"I think humans have a natural inclination to help, which is how we got there in the first place," he said.
"We called [the rangers] for advice on what to do and they said, 'We can come and have a look but we're 40 minutes away', and it was an apparent temperature of minus 7 and there's this shivering kangaroo in the water, and you know, it's hard to walk off.
Canberra is often referred to as the 'kangaroo capital', and Lake Burley Griffin has seen rescues before.
In 2019 a kangaroo initially defied efforts by water police to free it from the lake — hopping right back in after it was fished out with a jetski.
The ACT government spokesperson said calling Access Canberra or ACT Wildlife was the best thing to do when faced with any injured animal.
"Due to safety concerns to both the animal and the public, we ask that the community do not attempt a rescue themselves," they added.
"Please give the animal space and keep an eye on them from a distance — maintain enough room for the animal to leave the area."
