Escaped zoo animal: Cinnamon the capybara on the loose after escaping Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World in Telford

Daily Mail
Gorilla Cage with Bent Bars
Gorilla Cage with Bent Bars Credit: ChristianLohman/Getty Images

A giant rodent is on the loose after escaping from a zoo in Shropshire – with the public urged not to approach it.

The capybara, called Cinnamon, managed to get out of its enclosure at Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World in Telford.

Native to South America, capybaras are the largest rodents in the world.

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They are semi-aquatic and adults can grow up to 4.4ft in length, stand up to 24in tall and weigh between five and ten stone.

Zoo bosses said Cinnamon, escaped on Friday and entered woodland before getting through the perimeter fence.

Cinnamon the capybara is on the loose.
Cinnamon the capybara is on the loose. Credit: Instagram

They have warned the public not to approach the animal as it can become ‘unpredictable if alarmed or cornered’.

On Tuesday, the zoo said: “Despite searching throughout the night, there were no sightings of Cinnamon.” \

“However, we have received some very useful information from residents and now believe that Cinnamon is likely to be living in and around the Humber Brook on our northern border.

“We will be conducting a search of the area this evening with the help of a thermal camera drone operator and the keepers from Exotic Zoo (in Telford) who have kindly volunteered their help.”

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