The Incredible True Story of a Zoo Animal That Escaped and Became a Cartoon Star
When Cinnamon, a capybara at Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World in Shropshire, slipped through a gate, no one imagined her escape would make headlines. What looked like a small mishap quickly turned into a story people far beyond the zoo were following.
On September 14, 2024, staff were mowing her enclosure when the gate was left ajar. Cinnamon seized her chance, darted past the tractor, and disappeared into the woodland. Just like that, the one-year-old rodent was on the loose.
In the days that followed, keepers, volunteers, and drones searched for her while locals shared sightings near Humber Brook and nearby waterways. Reports suggested she wasn’t struggling but thriving — grazing freely, swimming, and, as the zoo’s owner put it, “living her best life.”
Cinnamon Goes Viral
Image via Canva/View Apart
As days passed without her capture, Cinnamon’s escape turned into an online spectacle. Photos, memes, and tongue-in-cheek updates spread quickly, with thousands of people following the wandering capybara’s next move. The zoo even put out a public appeal — asking locals to share sightings but to keep their distance so she wouldn’t bolt to an even harder place to reach.
Before long, Cinnamon had inspired a song and even a book about her adventure. What began as a small zoo escape had grown into a full-blown phenomenon, with people everywhere hooked on her story. Fans couldn’t get enough of the runaway capybara, and their affection for her only kept building.
The Search and Rescue
It took a few more days of searching, but on September 18, Cinnamon was finally found. She was located in a field about 200 meters from the zoo, looking happy and in good condition. The team had been working tirelessly to get her back safely, and their efforts paid off when they found her safe and sound. Although she was discovered near Humber Brook, Cinnamon remained a challenge to retrieve. The area was more suited to a capybara’s natural instincts, and she could hide in places humans couldn’t easily access.
The zoo’s owner, Will Dorrell, was relieved to have found Cinnamon but acknowledged that getting her back into her enclosure wouldn’t be a simple task. The terrain was much easier for Cinnamon to navigate than for the zoo team, so capturing her required patience and careful strategy.
Cinnamon, The Cartoon Star
Cinnamon is now back in her enclosure with her twin brother, Churro, and her parents, Chimu and Chincha. But her return wasn’t the end of the story. The attention around her escape inspired a cartoon retelling of her adventure, released on YouTube and even screened in a few cinemas. What began as a simple breakout had turned her into something of a star.
The animated version of Cinnamon’s adventure quickly drew fans of all ages. What had been a nerve-racking few days for the zoo was recast as a lighthearted story that left people smiling and rooting for the little capybara.