Mum of world-famous capybara dies, zoo confirms

The mother of a capybara who captured the world's attention when she made a break for freedom from a zoo has died.

Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World in Telford said Chincha the capybara has died after struggling with arthritis for 12 months.

She is best known as the mother of Cinnamon, who sparked an extensive seven-day rodent-hunt in September 2024 before being captured in a nearby pond.

Her story led to internet memes, a song, merchandise and a cartoon about her exploits.

In a post shared on Facebook, a spokesperson for Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World said: "It's with a very heavy heart that we share some sad news from the zoo today.

"This morning, after a long consultation with our vet, we made the difficult decision to say goodbye to our beloved Chincha the Capybara."

They added: "For the past 12 months, Chincha has been struggling with arthritis.

"We've done everything we could to keep her comfortable, but it became clear that it was time to let her rest.

"She'll be greatly missed by everyone here at the zoo. Until the bridge, Chincha."

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