Dangerous horned mountain goat escapes from Devon zoo: 'Do not approach'

A goat-antelope has escaped from a zoo in Devon, leading police to warn members of the public not to approach or startle the "horned beast" if they come across it.

The young female West Caucasian tur, a type of mountain goat, escaped its enclosure at Paignton Zoo on Monday.

Zoo keepers were moving the herd when the animal "became spooked", according to a tweet posted by the organisation.

The tur "cleared a fence, left the quarry area and entered the dense woodland", Paignton Zoo said.

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said that a police drone had been used to try and track the animal but that it had "disappeared into woodland and growth and its current whereabouts are unknown."

"We would advise that members of the public do not approach it," they said.

Anyone who sees the goat-antelope is instead advised to contact police.

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

"It is a horned beast and could be a danger to the public if startled," the force added on its Twitter page.

Paignton Zoo said that while officials are concerned for the tur's welfare, the animal is not thought "to be any kind of immediate danger to the public".

The West Caucasian tur is thought to be in the Clennan Woods at Goodrington, which are near the zoo.