Police have joined the search for a fugitive kangaroo seen hopping along a road in Thailand.

The female red kangaroo aged two escaped from bungling zookeepers who left its enclosure open at the Chiang Mai Zoo in Chiang Mai province on May 29 morning.

Frantic wildlife staff, fearing the animal might be attacked by stray dogs, immediately launched a search but are yet to retrieve the runaway roo last seen entering the Doi Suthep National Park.

Park officials said kangaroo tracks were found near a creek around two kilometres from the main road, while dried bloodstains believed to be from the zoo animal were discovered on rocks in the Huai Chang Khian forest.

They said the kangaroo may have been injured by barbed wire or thorns.

Phuping Rajanivej police station officers and drones were dispatched as the search radius was expanded.

The operation was suspended at 6:30 pm due to poor visibility and resumed on Thursday morning.

Chiang Mai Zoo had previously simulated the scenario by having a zookeeper don a kangaroo onesie and red boxing gloves during an animal escape drill in 2019.

A similar training exercise was held at the zoo in 2022, when staff dressed as an escaped ostrich.

However, questions are now being raised of how effective their bizarre practice routines - in which staff dress in animal costumes - actually are.