Richard Collins: Capybara are in the 'rodents we love' category

Guinea pigs and gerbils make loveable pets; we find squirrels endearing but rats inspire loathing everywhere

Capybara are unable to synthesise Vitamin C so they are prone to gum disease and scurvy

Capybaras are becoming the Houdinis of the zoo world. They staged a series of daring jail-breaks recently. Resembling overweight Airedale dogs with barrel-shaped heads and back legs longer than front ones, these cartoon-like rodents might seem to be unlikely escapees.

On April 3 last, Bazong (‘Big Shot’ in Chinese) made a hole in a fence at Yangzhou Zoo and, with two companions, escaped into the wild. According to press reports, one of the renegades was found relaxing in a lake. Another was trapped in a rubbish bin. However, the third fugitive, a female named Doubait, couldn’t be found. It took two months to track and lure her into a humane trap.