Dangerous goat-antelope escapes from zoo sparking urgent search

A dangerous goat-antelope has escaped from a zoo in Devon sparking an urgent search.

Members of the public have been urged not to approach the antelope after it escaped from Paignton Zoo and into nearby woodland.

Devon and Cornwall Police issued the warning after the West Caucasian tur ran off on Monday morning.

The "horned beast", which is a type of mountain-dwelling goat-antelope, could be a danger to the public if startled, police said.

Paignton Zoo suggests the young female escaped after becoming 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.

Phil Knowling, from Paignton Zoo, 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."

Speaking to the Standard on Tuesday, a spokesman for the zoo said the antelope had been sighted and "hasn't gone very far from the herd", although it has not yet returned to the enclosure.

A police spokesman added: "Police are assisting specialists from Paignton Zoo to help them locate an escaped West Caucasian tur which is a mountain-dwelling goat-antelope which is believed to be Clennon Woods.

"As you can see, it is a horned beast and could be a danger to the public if startled.

"If you see the tur, please make no efforts to corner it and call police immediately on 999."

The West Caucasian tur 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 and its wild population is estimated to be between 5,000 and 6,000 individuals.

Additional reporting by Press Association.