A night-time search is planned for a capybara which escaped from a zoo as her owner said they are “so good at hiding”.

One-year-old capybara Cinnamon escaped from Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World, in Telford, Shropshire, on Saturday and is “probably living her best life”, the zoo’s owner said.

The zoo posted on its Facebook page on Monday appealing for anyone who sees her to get in touch.

Will Dorrell, the zoo’s owner, told the PA news agency: “She hasn’t been found yet unfortunately, we’ve got an idea where she is, but they’re so good at hiding and fantastic swimmers, you’d have to step on her to know where she is.

“We’re setting out on a big search party tonight with a thermal drone.”

Mr Dorrell said the zoo has had a few tips on where Cinnamon might be from members of the public that “sounded plausible”, and said he hopes they are getting closer to locating her.

“We still think she hasn’t moved that far, that she is close to the zoo,” he added. “She will be more active at night than during the day, she’s going to hunker down and stay hidden, we’re hoping she’s going to stick her head up this evening.”

Asked how he believes Cinnamon is doing out of the zoo on her own, Mr Dorrell said he thinks she’s “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.”

The Search for Cinnamon

The zoo has been undertaking a series of searches to locate the missing capybara, with the latest being a mass search using a thermal drone, covering the area around the Humber Brook. This effort comes after a public appeal for information yielded valuable clues from local residents.

The zoo’s owner, Will Dorrell, has expressed confidence that Cinnamon is still close to the zoo, but acknowledged the difficulty of finding her due to her expert hiding skills and fondness for water. “They’re so good at hiding that we could literally be walking on top of her and not realising”, he said.

Cinnamon's Escape and Her Habitat

Cinnamon escaped from her enclosure on Friday, September 14th, after managing to sneak past keepers who were mowing the lawn. She was last spotted on Saturday evening, venturing beyond the zoo’s perimeter fence.

The area surrounding the zoo, particularly the Humber Brook, is considered a suitable habitat for Cinnamon due to its abundance of watercourses and food sources. Capybaras are known to be comfortable in these environments and are skilled swimmers, which makes the search efforts even more challenging.

Public Appeal for Information

The zoo has launched a public appeal, asking for anyone who sees Cinnamon to get in touch. They have provided phone numbers for immediate contact, emphasizing the importance of reporting sightings promptly. However, they also urge people not to try to catch Cinnamon, as this could frighten her and drive her further away.

Capybara Characteristics

Capybaras are the largest living rodents in the world, typically growing to about the size of a Labrador. They are native to South America and are known for their social nature, often living in groups of 10 to 20 individuals. Capybaras are highly adaptable and comfortable in both terrestrial and aquatic environments.

The Zoo's Response

The zoo has reported Cinnamon’s escape to the local council, as required by their zoo license. They are taking the situation seriously and are working hard to reunite Cinnamon with her family at the zoo.

The zoo has also assured the public that Cinnamon poses no danger to them or their pets. They are continuing to provide extra care to Cinnamon's parents and brother, who remain at Hoo Zoo.

A Capybara's Best Life

While the zoo is dedicated to bringing Cinnamon back, the owner, Will Dorrell, has expressed a sense of humor about the situation. He believes that Cinnamon is likely enjoying her time in the wild, indulging in all the things capybaras love: swimming, food, and a little bit of freedom. “She’s going to be out there loving it,” he said, despite his desire to have her back safe and sound. “But we’d rather have her back so we can make sure she’s ok.”

The search for Cinnamon continues, and the zoo is keeping the public updated on their efforts to reunite her with her family.