Marwell Zoo's Escaped Capybara Samba Still at Large After Six Days
Zookeepers at Marwell Zoo near Winchester, Hampshire, are intensifying their efforts to locate Samba, a capybara that escaped from its temporary enclosure just one day after arriving at the facility. The giant rodent has been missing for six days, prompting a widespread search involving sniffer dogs, thermal drones, and appeals to local residents.
Escape and Initial Search
Samba and her companion Tango managed to break out of their enclosure on Tuesday, shortly after their arrival from Jimmy's Farm and Wildlife Park in Ipswich. While Tango was quickly recovered from nearby bushes, Samba has proven more elusive. The zoo has narrowed the search area and deployed sniffer dogs to track her scent, with thermal drones also being used in the operation.
Recent Sighting on River Itchen
A promising sighting occurred on Sunday morning at approximately 11:05 am along the banks of the River Itchen near Winchester. Claudie Paddick, a 42-year-old family lawyer and mother-of-two, was walking her Labrador Growler and sausage dog Patsy when she spotted what she initially thought was a beaver or an injured deer.
"It then jumped in the river and it didn't come back out, and I was like what the hell is that?" Mrs Paddick recounted. "It was something I had never seen before. When I sent the video to my neighbour they said it is a capybara and they called Marwell Zoo right away."
Her neighbour immediately recognised the animal as Samba and alerted the zoo, leading to a team of fifteen people descending on the scene with heat-seeking technology. Unfortunately, Samba vanished into the water after being startled by Mrs Paddick's barking dog and has not been seen since.
Zoo's Urgent Appeals and Safety Measures
Marwell Zoo has issued urgent requests for nearby residents to check their gardens, ponds, and rivers, as capybaras are semi-aquatic and likely to seek out water sources. Laura Read, CEO of Marwell Zoo, emphasised: "Capybaras love water so please check gardens, ponds, rivers and local water environments where she may be hiding. She is also more likely to travel at night so please keep an eye out for her after sunset and be careful when driving."
The zoo has also cautioned the public not to approach Samba if spotted, as this could cause stress. Instead, they are asked to contact the zoo's dedicated 24-hour hotline at 07436 167401 with photos and location details using Google Maps or What3Words.
Search Strategy and Community Involvement
A spokesperson for Marwell Zoo explained that the recent sighting has allowed them to reduce the search area and deploy resources more effectively. "This has led us to a reduced search area, not far from where she was originally sighted, which has meant we could better deploy thermal drones to try and locate her," they said. "So far we have been unsuccessful in finding her, but as the dogs have picked up her scent on both days, we are keeping everything crossed we can pinpoint her location as soon as possible."
While encouraging local assistance, the zoo has urged people from outside the area not to travel to search for Samba, to avoid overwhelming the operation. Previous unconfirmed sightings have been reported as far away as Stonehenge, 35 miles distant, and at a pub in neighbouring Owslebury.
Background on Capybaras and Zoo Review
Capybaras are the world's largest rodents, native to South America, weighing up to 80kg and measuring up to 1.7 metres in length. Their affinity for water makes ponds and rivers likely hiding spots. In response to the escape, Marwell Zoo has launched an internal review to understand how Samba was able to break out and prevent future incidents.
Mrs Paddick, who had never heard of a capybara before her encounter, expressed her excitement and intention to visit Samba once she is safely recovered. "I am absolutely going to go and visit her if and when she is taken back to Marwell Zoo. I might go out with my children later to look for her but it has been a lot of excitement for one day," she said.
The search continues with zoo teams on foot following leads from the sniffer dogs, determined to bring Samba home safely.
