Capybaras on the loose! The chase is on after dog-size rodents escape High Park zoo
Mayor John Tory has jokingly assigned a 'one-person task force' to track the pair down
The chase is on as the city of Toronto races to track down two runaway capybaras. The pairhave already made a splashon social media.
The dog-sizedrodents broke out of their pens in High Park Zoo Tuesday morning and by the afternoon,already had not one, but two Twitter accounts dedicated to them.
Wondering if I say we're on the lamb or on the capybara? #HighParkZoo
—@HPcapybara
they see me rollin, they hatin #highparkaintgotnothinonme
—@TorontoCapybara
If we're to trust the Twitterverse, the two rodents have already seen theirfair share of adventure...
We just had a run-in with a raccoon here in the park. Our top speed is abt 35 km/h though so we got away. Take that, nimble-handed bandit!
—@HPcapybara
And they might just be really dedicated Blue Jays fans, plotting their escape justin time for the game.
Any kindly neighbours with an outdoor tv we could borrow to watch the @BlueJays tonight? #OurMoment
—@HPcapybara
Either way, Toronto's mayor,John Tory,is determined to get the two herbivores back in their pens.
The mayor jokingly assigned a"one-persontask force" Tuesday to "track down and safely return to High Park the capybaras that have apparently gone astray."
City councillor GordPerks, who was offered the position,politely declined,too busy taking on the city's other furry foes.
@goldsbie Please tell him I am honoured he thought of me, but am otherwise engaged battling Vorpal Bunnies.
—@gordperks
The "Vorpal Bunnies" mention is likely a reference to the Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog, a fictional character in the Monty Python and the Holy Grail film. And while there is the occasional wild rabbitspotted in city of Toronto, there are few killer bunnies on the loose.
As for capybaras, the rodents are native to South America and stand about two feet tall. The average one weighs about75 to 150 pounds.
Toronto police are urging the public to keep an eye out for the two creatures and say they should still be somewhere in the park.
UPDATE - ADVISORY
High Park Zoo, two missing Capybara ^cb pic.twitter.com/bvAQ7ptaHA
—@TPSOperations
The Toronto Zoo says its capybaras haven't joined in the escape.
Our capybara's are accounted for and they haven't had any recent visitors . Get home safe soon friends! pic.twitter.com/WzMPW8PsFJ
—@TheTorontoZoo
High Park Zoo says one lonecapybara is still safely in itspen, holding down the fort. It'sunclear whether or not it'scooperating with police.