Missing Capybara Good at ‘Avoiding Detection’ After Escaping From Enclosure, Zoo Says
A 9-month-old capybara named Samba has been on the loose in the English countryside for weeks after escaping from Marwell Zoo in Hampshire, England, and the animal’s ability to evade an extensive search operation has turned her into an international internet sensation.
Samba and her sister, Tango, arrived at Marwell Zoo on March 16 from Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park in Ipswich. The next day, while their permanent habitat was still being completed and the pair were being kept in a temporary holding area, both capybaras escaped.
“Samba and Tango had other ideas, however, and managed to escape from their new home,” the zoo shared in a new statement on its website on March 30.
Tango was found in the bushes at the zoo that same day and is “doing absolutely fine and receiving plenty of care.” Samba, on the other hand, “made her way beyond the zoo perimeter” and has been roaming free ever since. Locals have spotted her in the wild, capturing videos of the capybara sunbathing and diving into a river.
Samba Continues to Dodge Drones, Dogs and Camera Traps
The zoo has mounted a large-scale effort to recapture Samba, but the young capybara has proven difficult to locate. In a March 31 update shared per Hampshire Chronicle, a Marwell Zoo spokesperson said: “We are continuing to do everything we can to bring Samba home safely.”
The zoo detailed the scope of its search: “This includes deploying specialist dog units to track her scent using bedding from both Samba and Tango, using thermal drones to identify her amongst the vegetation and placing camera traps along the waterways where we believe she may be.”
Those efforts haven’t been enough. The spokesperson acknowledged that Samba is eluding the teams: “Our teams continue to carry out extensive searches both day and night. However, the area being covered is large, and Samba is particularly adept at avoiding detection, which has resulted in limited confirmed sightings.”
People Keep Reporting Samba Sightings
The zoo confirmed more credible sightings across several villages: “We have received credible reports of Samba in Owslebury, Allbrook, Brambridge and Twyford, primarily along the River Itchen, which provides a suitable natural habitat.”
One sighting placed her near The Ship Inn in Owslebury.
The River Itchen offers water and vegetation suitable for a capybara, but the zoo noted “it also presents challenges due to difficult terrain and limited access in some areas.”
Zoo Chief Says Samba’s Reunion With Tango Is the Priority
While capybaras have no immediate predators in the U.K., the zoo said its concern goes beyond safety.
“Capybaras are social animals and our focus is on retrieving Samba safely and reuniting her with her sister Tango back at Marwell Zoo,” said Laura Read, Marwell Zoo’s chief executive.
The zoo has asked residents of Owslebury and surrounding villages to watch for Samba around waterbanks, gardens, ponds, rivers and local water environments. They’ve also advised people to drive with caution, as Samba is likely to travel at night.
The Story Has Drawn Global Attention
The zoo acknowledged the scale of public interest in its March 30 statement: “As you may have seen across local, national and even global press – and all over your social feeds – we’ve had a rather unexpected turn of events here at Marwell over the past 11 days.”
The capybara — the world’s largest rodent, native to South America — has drawn attention far beyond Hampshire. South Florida residents may recognize the species: capybaras have been spotted in parts of Florida, where the semi-aquatic animals find the subtropical climate hospitable.
Samba remains at large as search teams continue day and night operations along the River Itchen corridor.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
