Cinnamon, the adventurous capybara who made headlines around the world after her great escape from Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World in Telford, is spending Christmas Day at home, away from the public eye. The one-year-old rodent will enjoy a quieter holiday with her family, including her parents and brother, Churro, in the comfort of her enclosure.
Christmas at the zoo is a special time for the keepers, who get to spend quality moments with their favorite animals. Cinnamon will receive presents, treats, and fun activities on Christmas Day, with a special focus on food that’s good for her, like sweet potato. While she enjoys a bit of banana, it’s kept to a minimum due to its high sugar content.
Since her daring escape in September, Cinnamon’s story captivated animal lovers around the globe. Her week-long adventure even sparked internet memes, merchandise, a song, and a children’s book to raise funds for the zoo. Many well-wishers from places like Australia, America, and Canada sent fan mail, artwork, and letters expressing concern for Cinnamon’s well-being.
On her official birthday in October, after her return to the zoo, Cinnamon was treated to a special birthday cake made of steamed and mashed sweet potato, wrapped in banana leaves. Despite its “gross” appearance, it was a hit with the capybara.
Although the Christmas festivities are more subdued for the animals, all the creatures at Hoo Zoo receive food-based treats to enjoy, and Cinnamon is no exception. The zoo’s dedicated keepers treat all the animals equally, though Cinnamon’s fame certainly makes it difficult to avoid giving her a little extra attention.
Looking ahead to the new year, the zoo has revamped its gate system after Cinnamon’s escape, which occurred when a keeper accidentally left the gate open while mowing the enclosure. Despite the brief escape, Cinnamon didn’t travel far, and she’s now content to stay at home with her family.
Though Cinnamon has had her taste of adventure, it seems there is no place like home for this clever capybara.