First birthday bash for Cinnamon the capybara!

Cinnamon the capybara, who made news around the world after escaping her enclosure, will celebrate her birthday today (12 October) with a special party to mark turning one!

The rodent - who looks like a giant guinea pig - spent a week on the run last month after getting out of her pen at Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World in Telford, Shropshire.

A huge operation was launched to safely re-capture her, after she spent several nights in nearby undergrowth.

She was eventually rescued by keepers who spotted her in a pond in the zoo’s woodland conservation area.

A post on the zoo's Facebook page said "Cinnamon turned 1 year old on the 14th September - the day after she escaped.

"Her keepers had celebrations planned for her but she missed out. Considering the fuss she created we felt that it was only right you were all invited as well!"

Visitors to Hoo Zoo are being invited to get involved in today's celebrations for Cinnamon, which include a scavenger hunt and capybara talks.

A timeline of Cinnamon’s Escape

Friday 13th September – Cinnamon the Capybara escapes her enclosure whilst zookeepers are mowing the lawn in her paddock.

Saturday 14th September – Cinnamon is spotted by a pedestrian on a road outside the zoo’s perimeter

Sunday 15th September – The zoo assembles a ‘round the clock’ search team to search woodlands, brooks and ponds both on the zoos grounds and nearby to the zoo’s perimeter.

Monday 16th September – The zoo appeal for the public’s support in locating Cinnamon after weekend searches prove fruitless. Searches continue throughout dusk and in to the night.

Tuesday 17th September – The search party call upon the expertise of local drone experts to locate Cinnamon and she is finally spotted by a drone in a field only 200 metres from her enclosure.

Wednesday 18th September – Cinnamon is spotted again by drone, but the zoo’s team of experts are unable to capture her. The zoo’s team of experts decide to temporarily pause recapture efforts in order not to cause Cinnamon any stress that may lead to her entering neighboring land occupied by the Ministry of Defence.

Thursday 19th September – Cinnamon is monitored by drone.

Friday 20th September – A reported sighting of Cinnamon in a pond in the zoo’s woodland conservation area leads to a successful capture. Cinnamon is returned to an enclosure with her twin brother, Churro.

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