Three raccoons found following escape from Isle of Wight zoo - tracker dogs and drones deployed

011124 ESCAPED RACCOONS
The zoo is asking people to keep an eye out for the raccoon and said they are not dangerous Credit: Amazon World Zoo Park

A third raccoon has been recovered after escaping from a zoo on the Isle of Wight, leaving just one on the run.

The animal was one of four female racoons who got free from their compound at Amazon World Zoo Park, in Sandown on Friday morning.

Tracker dogs and drones have been deployed in a bid to recapture them all.

The zoo announced its recapture with a 'Racoon Update' on social media early on Monday, saying "Number 3 has been caught", accompanied with pictures of the animal in a cage.

The four animals are new to the zoo and there are concerns they may be hiding in a bonfire pile Credit: Amazon World Zoo Park

It gave no details of where the racoon was caught.

The first racoon was recovered on Friday night in Newchurch, close to the zoo’s grounds, while the second was discovered near to the parrot enclosures on Saturday nights.

After checks, the first two recovered animals were being kept in an enclosure not on show to the public, along with another racoon who did not escape.

The zoo issued a "huge thank you to all the staff" for their "huge team effort" in trying to recover the animals.

Since racoons are nocturnal, the majority of the rescue efforts have been taking place at night with staff using tracker dogs and drones to try and locate the escaped animals.

Rachel Patrick, a headkeeper at the zoo, said on Friday that members of the public should remain vigilant "especially from 4.30pm and through the night".

She added: "Check your gardens, trees, hedgerows, and sheds just as if you were looking for a lost cat or dog.

"Please do not approach the animals. They are not aggressive normally but will be scared."

The zoo has asked anyone who spots the one missing racoon to take a picture if safe to do so, with any reports sent to the racoon hotline by phone, message or WhatsApp on 07956 194981.

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