Tracker dogs and drones are searching the Isle of Wight for four female raccoons who’ve made a daring escape from Amazon World Zoo Park. The raccoons, new residents of the zoo, have managed to evade capture since their nocturnal breakout.
Local residents have been alerted to the raccoons’ disappearance and are advised to remain vigilant. According to the zoo, the raccoons are “not normally aggressive,” but should not be approached if spotted. Rowena Welsh, a supervisor at the zoo, emphasized, “Everyone is out searching and we have tracker dogs and drones looking for them. They are not dangerous and the protocol is for people to call us straight away and don’t try to approach because they would be very frightened.”
The zoo took to social media to urge locals to inspect outbuildings and bonfire piles, as the raccoons would likely be resting during daylight hours, becoming active again at dusk. Known for their distinctive black “mask” and banded tail, the North American raccoons can reach up to 90cm in length, with males sometimes weighing over 20kg.
Amazon World Zoo Park, located near Arreton on the island’s east side, boasts the largest collection of exotic animals on the Isle of Wight. This incident marks the second time in recent weeks that raccoons have captured international attention. Earlier this month, a raccoon in New York was seized and euthanized, sparking public outcry.
It’s not the first time Raccoons have made national and international news this week, New York authorities recently confiscated an a raccoon named Fred along with an orphaned squirrel named Peanut from a private residence due to potential rabies exposure. The seizure followed anonymous complaints and resulted in both animals being euthanized. The decision to put the animals down was met with a significant backlash from the community, making front page news during the US General election between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
As the search continues on the Isle of Wight, residents and authorities remain hopeful for the safe recovery of the escaped raccoons.
