Horned goat that escaped from Devon zoo spotted nearby

A rare goat-antelope that escaped from a Devon zoo has been spotted, 24 hours after going on the run.

The young female West Caucasian tur, a type of mountain goat, jumped a fence and fled into woods behind Paignton Zoo on Monday.

The zoo said keepers spotted the animal nearby and were hopeful it would return of its own accord.

Spokesman Phil Knowling told The Independent: “It is taking a while. I think everyone thought she would have given up and come in by now but clearly not.”

In a separate statement, the zoo said: "Keepers can see her, she’s on the edge of the wood and close to where she wants to be, which is back with the herd. We’ve given her access and put down food and now the keepers are sitting back and watching."

It added: "She’s a naturally timid herd animal and there’s no reason to chase her or dart her – we hope she’ll walk back into safety of her own accord. It’s a matter of waiting patiently for her to do the right thing in a way that is as stress-free for her and for the keepers."

While they were concerned for the tur’s welfare and getting her back to the herd, they assured the public that the animal "was not thought to be any kind of immediate danger" to them.

Devon and Cornwall Police warned the public not to approach the “horned beast” as it could be a danger to the public if startled.

The West Caucasian tur, which is found in the Caucasus Mountains between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea.

It is listed as an endangered species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

The wild population is estimated to be between 5,000 and 6,000 individuals.