Mountain goat escapes Paignton Zoo

(Last Updated On: September 24, 2018)

A mountain goat has escaped from Paignton Zoo today, Monday 24th September

A young female West Caucasian tur – a kind of mountain goat – got out of its enclosure at Paignton Zoo. The animal was spooked while keepers were moving the zoo’s herd into their house. It cleared a fence, left the quarry area and entered the dense woodland above Clennon Valley.

Staff responded immediately. While the tur is not in the highest classification of dangerous animals at the Zoo, keepers were concerned for its welfare as well as that of the public. The police were called and have offered full support.

Paignton Zoo spokesperson Phil Knowling said: “Our main concern now is that the animal is safe and well, that we locate her and get her back into familiar territory with the rest of the herd. She is probably pretty stressed. We are hoping that a police drone with thermal imaging technology can help.”

The West Caucasian tur (Capra caucasica) is a mountain-dwelling goat-antelope found in the Caucasus Mountains range between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. It is listed as an Endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The wild population is estimated to be between 5,000 and 6,000 individuals.

Updates can be found on Paignton Zoos Facebook page.

Paignton Zoo Environmental Park is a registered charity. For more information go towww.paigntonzoo.org.uk or ring 01803 697500.