In a caper straight out of a comedy script, Doubao the capybara pulled off a daring escape from a zoo in Yangzhou, Jiangsu province, and enjoyed a two-month vacation. The animal gained weight while it was away.
According to the management office at the Zhuyuwan scenic area in Yangzhou, Doubao, which means “bean bag”, returned with smooth and shiny fur.
Doubao escaped with its family members on April 3. While the others were captured, Doubao remained on the run. The capybara”s escapades came to an end when it waltzed into a trap cage at 2 am this Tuesday.
On May 11, the zoo offered a reward for information leading to Doubao’s capture. Anyone providing valid information would receive a free ticket to the zoo, leading to online jokes about the zoo being the “most stingy zoo on the internet”.
On May 12, the zoo increased the reward by adding a bag of rice and a box of eggs. On May 16, they further increased the reward by adding 10 boxes of frozen Yangzhou fried rice, two boxes of steamed bun gift sets, eight pieces of limited edition merchandise, and a lifetime family card to the zoo, stating that the “ultimate reward will not be increased further”.
Netizens also joked that Doubao’s return had saved the zoo director a pretty penny.
Now, the capybara clan is back together, enjoying heartwarming family time under the sun and in the water.