Escaped capybara 'probably living her best life'
Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World
Cinnamon and her brother Churro are well-loved animals at Hoo Zoo in Telford.
Efforts to locate a capybara that escaped from a zoo four days ago are ongoing day and night.
Cinnamon escaped from her home at Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World in Telford on Friday and made her way into the wooded areas within the zoo property.
The most recent time she was seen was on Saturday, when she successfully passed through the boundary fence.
Will Dorrell, the owner of the zoo, mentioned that he thinks Cinnamon has reached the Humber Brook river, close to the zoo's northern edge, where "she's likely enjoying her life to the fullest."
On Tuesday evening, a large search will be conducted in the Humber Brook area, assisted by a local drone operator skilled in using thermal cameras and zookeepers from the nearby zoo.
Hoo Zoo and Dino Kingdom
A young Cinnamon resides at Hoo Zoo along with her mom, dad, and brother.
Mr. Dorrell mentioned that Cinnamon managed to get away when the caretakers came into the capybara area to cut the grass. She was concealed in tall grass close to the gate.
As the gate swung open, she quickly maneuvered beside a tractor to exit the fenced area.
"Our two young capybaras are constantly finding new ways to give us a bit of a challenge," Mr. Dorrell mentioned.
They are highly intelligent, a fact that many individuals may not fully recognize or value.
"It was as if she anticipated our next move, standing by and prepared for the moment the gate would be opened."
Although there has never been a recorded escape of a capybara from the zoo, Mr. Dorrell recounted an incident from a few years ago when one dug beneath a fence to enter an ostrich area. However, the capybara soon figured out that she preferred returning to her original habitat.
Mr. Dorrell informed the BBC that Cinnamon was not in immediate danger, but the staff wanted to locate her so they could return her to the zoo and reunite her with her family.
"There's a vast area of marsh and waterways directly across from us, which is why we have a strong feeling she might be there," he stated.
"In their natural habitat, these animals excel at swimming and often make their homes along riverbanks. When they sense danger, they quickly dive into the water, where they can remain submerged for hours."
"We're putting in a lot of effort around the clock right now to locate her," he stated.
On Tuesday, Cinnamon's family, including her parents and twin brother, were exploring the zoo.
Capybaras originate from South America and hold the title of the largest rodents alive today.
Cinnamon was born at the zoo along with her brother Churro and is currently about a year old.
Mr. Dorrell mentioned that the two of them remained closely bonded, and noted that Churro is doing well since their parents are still around to support them.
"But of course, it would be great to bring them back together," he remarked.
Will Dorrell mentioned that he believed Cinnamon was "likely enjoying her life to the fullest."
Cinnamon hasn't been seen since Saturday, when she was last spotted on Humber Lane.
On Friday night, she was captured on the zoo's trail cameras and nearly returned to her enclosure. However, she was still too far away for the keepers to intervene.
Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur Park
Baby Cinnamon and Churro are spending time with their mom at the family-run zoo.
The public is encouraged to let the zoo know if they see her, but they should avoid approaching her to prevent frightening her and pushing her even further away.
"She’s extremely gentle and wouldn’t harm anyone; she’s probably just a bit shy," Mr. Dorrell explained.
"If this continues for a while longer, she isn't in immediate danger. She can easily withstand the weather, even though she likes it a bit warmer. Plus, there is plenty of food and suitable living conditions available in the area."
