Missing C capybara Cinnamon Found After Daring Escape, Zoo Owners Relieved at Reunion

A capybara named Cinnamon caused quite a stir when she escaped from her enclosure at Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World in Shropshire. Her daring getaway occurred on September 13, leading to an extensive search operation that captured global attention. Seven days later, the capybara was located in a pond near the park, prompting the zoo's owners to take action to coax her out. 

Rescue Efforts and Triumph

Will Dorrell, one of the zoo owners, described the challenging rescue efforts, revealing that they had to wade into the pond, measuring approximately 50 by 20 metres, to retrieve Cinnamon and reunite her with her family. He shared with Hits Radio News that his wife, Becky, had been tracking Cinnamon through the woodland and the surrounding area, ultimately finding her in the middle of the pond.

The successful rescue brought immense joy to the zoo owners, who were thrilled to have Cinnamon back with her twin brother, Churro. Dorrell expressed, “I’d love to say it was nice and easy getting her out of the pond but it wasn’t. Several of us got very wet. Cinnamon was quite happy in the pond so we had to get in with her and slowly try to coax her into the cage. I know that there will be lots of people who will be very excited to see her, but nobody more so than her own mum and dad.”

A Giant in Disguise

For those unfamiliar with capybaras, they resemble giant guinea pigs and are native to South America. As the largest living rodent in the world, they possess remarkable survival skills, such as holding their breath underwater for up to five minutes and running at speeds of up to 20 miles per hour. Cinnamon’s escape notably occurred when the keepers entered the enclosure to mow the paddock and unknowingly disturbed her, leading to her slip out unnoticed.

Preventive Measures and a Sense of Relief

In the aftermath of Cinnamon’s escapade, Dorrell informed the BBC that measures were promptly put in place to prevent a recurrence of such incidents. Prior to her escape, he suggested that Cinnamon was “probably living her best life” in the marshland and riverways surrounding the zoo, which are akin to her natural habitat. It was reported that she had been spotted in a nearby field on a Tuesday night but evaded capture, disappearing into dense undergrowth when approached by zoo staff. To avoid causing stress to the capybara, the search team stayed their efforts until Thursday.

“We’re absolutely delighted to have Cinnamon back at the zoo,” expressed Dorrell. The triumphant reunion was a moment of relief and elation for the zoo staff, who were pleased to have their adventurous resident back in their care.