Family zoo issue update on Cinnamon the fugitive capybara

A family zoo has said they are pausing their recapture efforts for fugitive capybara Cinnamon who has 'captured the hearts' of animal lovers around the world.

Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World's 'beloved' capybara, considered the world's largest rodent, escaped from her enclosure in Telford, Shropshire, on Friday.

Zookeepers worked through the whole of last night to find the animal after she was spotted by a thermal drone on Tuesday just 200metres from her enclosure.

But this morning the zoo called off its search after staff members struggled to locate the creature in the area's thick undergrowth.

Zoo chiefs hope to restart the search on Friday night but say Cinnamon is currently 'extremely comfortable and happy' after searchers found plenty of fresh tracks and Capybara faeces in the area.

It added that any disturbance to her current living conditions could see her relocate to a more dangerous area, such as the nearby land which is owned by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). 

In a statement, Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World said: 'Last night our keepers were again working through the night to try and recapture Cinnamon. She was spotted again by a thermal drone within 5 metres of the same location from Tuesday night.

What is a capybara?

The capybara is a giant cavy rodent native to South America.

Twice the size of a beaver, it is the largest rodent on earth.

These impressive semi-aquatic mammals are closely related to guinea pigs and rock cavies, and more distantly related to chinchillas and agouti.

Like beavers, capybaras are strong swimmers due to their pig-shaped bodies and partially webbed toes, suitable for paddling around in wetlands.

However, they are often hunted by jaguars and pumas for dinner. 

'Unfortunately this area is extremely dense with almost impenetrable undergrowth that Cinnamon can easily move under but we cannot.

'During our searches we found plenty of fresh tracks and Capybara poo and it looks like Cinnamon is extremely comfortable and happy in that area.

'Due to this we've taken the decision to pause recapture efforts for the time being and will resume on Friday night.  

'We have been in lengthy discussions with wildlife capture professionals and all of us are concerned that continued disturbance of where Cinnamon is living could cause her to relocate to an area that could be dangerous. 

'We are also bordered by the MOD and there are concerns that if she moves into that area we may not be able to retrieve her.' 

The zoo say Cinanamon is currently 'comfortable, content, not short on food and not at risk to predators'. 

With that in mind, staff members have said they want to take their time and recapture the animal with the 'least amount of stress possible'. 

Multiple live traps have been placed in the area and the zoo says it will be checking these multiple times a day. 

However, mass searches will not being taking place until Friday night.

The attempts to capture the escaped capybara has captured worldwide attention, which the zoo said it's staff members were 'really touched and overwhelmed' by. 

Their statement added: 'We are really touched and overwhelmed that Cinnamon has captured the hearts of so many people from all around the world. 

'We know that everyone wants a quick resolution to this but we are sure you can all agree that it's more important that we recapture Cinnamon with as little stress as possible and ensure she stays happy and healthy.' 

On Wednesday, Zoo owner Will Dorrell admitted that locating Cinnamon and catching her were two 'very different things'. 

She was found living in a field and section of woodland next to the zoo by a search team but hid and could not be recaptured, according to a post on the zoo's Facebook page.

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Drone images capture fugitive capybara Cinnamon on the run after escaping from family zoo

The post said: 'Thanks to the tireless efforts of our team last night along with a couple of local volunteers (including a thermal drone operator) we managed to locate Cinnamon.

'It turns out that she is currently living in a field and section of woodland right next to the zoo - less than 200m from her home.

'Despite efforts last night to recapture her she managed to hide in dense thicket and the decision was made to place down live traps rather than attempt to catch her by hand and cause further stress (or drive her further away).' 

The family-run zoo is still preparing to return Cinnamon to her family. Mr Dorrell said: 'We're hoping that we will have her back here soon. We've got a group of dedicated keepers who have been working all through the night.' 

Mr Dorrell said that the species - which recently went viral on TikTok due to their 'cute' appearance - are 'so good at hiding'. He joked that she is 'probably living her best life'.

He said: 'The area, unfortunately for us, where the zoo is, there's lots of watercourses, lots of food, all the things that capybaras love to eat and they love to swim.

'They're relatively hardy animals, [we've got] absolutely no welfare concerns about her, she's going to be out there loving it, but we'd rather have her back so we can make sure she's ok.'

Capybaras are native to South America and are the largest living rodents in the world, belonging to the same family as guinea pigs and rock cavies.

They are semi-aquatic and spend most of their time grazing or swimming in the nearest water they can find.

Adults can grow up to 106-134 cm (3.4ft-4.4ft) in length, stand 50 to 62cms (20ins to 24 ins) tall and typically weigh between five-ten stone (35kg to 66kg).