Escaped capybara spotted in drone search as Shropshire zookeepers try to catch rodent on the loose

A capybara who escaped from a zoo in Shropshire has now been found, as zookeepers prepare to capture the rodent which is still on the loose.

One-year-old Cinnamon escaped from Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World in Telford, Shropshire, on Saturday.

She was found during an overnight search of the area around the zoo using a drone and infrared camera.

The Zoo's owner said she was “living her best life”, but they will try to get her home this evening.

Will Dorrell, the zoo’s owner, said: "Last night we saw her on a drone less than 200 metres from her home, so we're hoping that through the use of live traps and a search party this evening we can get her back.

"When we saw her on the drone she was looking very good, she was sat there very happily munching on grass."

The area around the zoo where Cinnamon has been spotted has plenty of streams and ponds a capybara in the wild would love for swimming, and plenty of food to keep her going.

Will Dorrell said: "She's going to be living her best live out there which is making our lives a bit difficult getting enticing her back.

"We've put lots of live traps down which are basically cages with a door at the back that drops down when she walks in so we can bring her back with the least amount of stress.

"It would be hugely relieving [to have her back], we've obviously missed her and it's been quite a stressful period for all the keepers here, everyone was very attached to Cinnamon before this so we want to get her back as soon as possible."

"We'd like to thank everybody for all their support and help and hopefully continued support if we don't find her over the next 24 hours or 48 hours or so.

"If you do happen to come across her, leave her where she is and give us a ring."

Cinnamon weighs 30 kilos and capybaras can hold their breath for up to five minutes and run up to 20mph, so she could be difficult to catch, Mr Dorrell said.

He added: "She's no threat to the public but she might get scared and move further away [if you approach her] which we don't want to happen."

Capybaras are generally about the size of a Labrador, but one-year-old Cinnamon is roughly as big as a large spaniel.

The zoo said it has reported the escape to the council in line with the conditions of its zoo licence.

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