One-year-old Cinnamon the capybara managed to flee from her enclosure at Hoo Zoo and Dinosaur World in Telford, Shropshire, on Friday.
It is believed she entered the woodlands within the zoo grounds before getting beyond the perimeter fence.
A night-time search is planned for the capybara. However, her owner has said that this particular species is “so good at hiding.”
The zoo owner, Will Dorrell, joked that Cinnamon is “probably living her best life.”
"The area, unfortunately for us, where the zoo is, there's lots of watercourses, lots of food, all the things that capybaras love to eat, and they love to swim,” he said.
Despite their adorable appearance, members of the public have been warned not to approach Cinnamon if sighted, as they can become “unpredictable if alarmed or cornered.”
In an update this afternoon, the zoo wrote on social media: “We'd like to thank everyone for their support and kind comments at this difficult time.
“Despite searching throughout the night, there were no sightings of Cinnamon.
“However, we have received some very useful information from local residents and now believe that Cinnamon is likely living in and around the Humber Brook on our northern border.
“As a result of this new information, we will be conducting a mass search of the area this evening with the help of a local thermal camera drone operator and the keepers from Exotic Zoo, who have kindly volunteered their help.
“We are getting lots of offers of help from local residents, and we would like to ask you to keep your eyes peeled.
“'Cinnamon is very timid, and any attempt to capture her by untrained individuals could result in driving her further away from her home - which we want to avoid.
“Cinnamon is greatly loved and missed by her keepers who are continuing to give extra care to her parents and brother who remain at Hoo Zoo.”
“We still think she hasn't moved that far, that she is close to the zoo,” Mr Dorrell said.
“She will be more active at night than during the day, she's going to hunker down and stay hidden, we're hoping she's going to stick her head up this evening.
“Cinnamon has a fantastic bond with her keepers and it is likely that she can be encouraged back to her habitat with no physical intervention.
“Please wish us all the very best for the safe and swift return of Cinnamon.. We appreciate all of your support in finding her.”
