Birthday party for Cinnamon the capybara who escaped from Hoo Zoo

A birthday party is to be held for a capybara who became world famous after escaping from a zoo.

Cinnamon’s third birthday will be marked by staff at Hoo Zoo near Telford, two years after the intrepid rodent left her enclosure after a gate was accidentally left open.

She spent a week “living her best life” before zoo staff waded into a pond in a nearby conservation area to try and coax her home. Her adventures sparked world-wide news coverage and her story became the theme of a children’s book.

The zoo invited visitors to “enjoy birthday-themed activities”, but admitted that “knowing her she’ll be the other end of the field and [have] absolutely zero interest in people”.

“I’m not being horrible to her here, but capybaras in general they’re not the most charismatic of animals,” zoo owner Will Dorrell said adding Cinammon was not “overly fussed” about the attention that she gets.

“Half the time you look at her and she’s a bit of a diva and she just sort of turns her back to you.”

The zoo said it had got “some nice birthday treats” for one of its “most loved residents”.