A capybara in China is on the loose after it escaped from its enclosure in Zhuyuwan Scenic Area in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province.
The area is offering a free zoo ticket to anyone who can provide information that could lead to the capture of the runaway capybara.
Image via @hmj9999/X
The escape
The one-and-a-half-year-old capybara named Doubao broke out with its accomplices, fellow capybara Bazong and Duoduo on Apr. 3, Chinese media CGTN and Global Times reported.
The mastermind behind the escape is reportedly Bazong, who is commonly described as gentle and laid-back.
Surveillance footage showed that Bazong had broken a window of their enclosure with its head, leading to the three capybaras' escape.
The enclosure has since been installed with protective nets.
Two capybaras captured so far
Zookeepers immediately launched a search operation that morning. Two capybaras have been captured so far.
Bazong was the first to be discovered. The capybara was found casually swimming in a river within the park.
Duoduo was found after nearly a month on the run.
Global Times dubbed Duoduo an "expert at evasion". It had escaped into the southern canal and evaded capture by diving underwater whenever zookeepers came near.
The escape artist was finally captured on Apr. 30, 2 kilograms lighter.
Zookeepers told Global Times that they have located Doubao's current hideout— a swampy area filled with reeds alongside the canal within the park.
The environment, coupled with Doubao's exceptional swimming skills, makes the condition less favourable for capture.
Might increase reward in the future
Meanwhile, the zoo has since said on social media that it might increase its reward in the future.
This is after social media users commented about the zoo's low reward amount.
"While our reward offer may not be large, we've never cut corners when it comes to providing quality living conditions for our animals," a staff member at the zoo said, as quoted by The Global Times.
It said that it had completed the construction of new habitats for the animals and also plans to build a native species area and upgrade some of its habitats in the future.
Top image via 扬州茱萸湾风景区/Weibo and @hmj9999/X
