A capybara that escaped from a zoo in England a week ago has been recaptured. The animal, named Cinnamon, was found on Friday in a nearby field after spending several days roaming free.
The capybara managed to slip out of the Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World in Telford, leading to a local search effort. She was spotted in good health and showed no signs of stress during her capture.
Cinnamon’s capture came after being spotted in a pond in the woodland conservation area around the zoo.
According to the zoo’s director, Scott Adams, Cinnamon was likely “living her best life” during the escape, but keeping non-native animals in the wild is not allowed.
The zoo said she was happy at the pond where she was found and didn’t want to come out. Zoo staff had to get into the water to lure her out.
Cinnamon has since returned to an enclosure at the zoo with her twin brother, Churro. She’s acclimating to life back at the zoo.
Capybaras in the wild
Capybaras are the largest rodents in the world, native to South America. They are highly social animals and often live in groups, usually near bodies of water like rivers and lakes. Their webbed feet help them move easily in aquatic environments.
Despite their large size, they are generally peaceful and docile, making them popular in zoos and even as pets in some regions.
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