A capybara named Samba, which had been missing from Marwell Zoo in Hampshire for the past seven months, has recently been confirmed to be alive following a series of sightings. The 16-month-old capybara escaped from her temporary enclosure just a day after arriving at the zoo from Jimmy’s Farm and Wildlife Park in Suffolk on 17 March. While her sister, Tango, who also fled, was recovered shortly after, Samba’s whereabouts remained unknown until now.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/Marwell-zoo-Capybara-032026-8847f6cfcd034f4f88f5e1f4a62c1a10.jpg)
As of 27 October, staff at Marwell Zoo revealed that Samba has been sighted multiple times via wildlife cameras set up on the zoo grounds. Despite these sightings, zoo officials face challenges retrieving her, as she has taken refuge on private land. According to a spokesperson, simply approaching and capturing Samba is not straightforward, which has complicated rescue efforts.
To encourage Samba to return, zoo staff have established a dedicated feeding area designed to familiarise her with a safe location. “This is an important step in our plans to safely recover her,” the spokesperson said. The zoo expressed appreciation for the public’s interest in Samba’s wellbeing and assured that efforts are ongoing to bring her back home safely.
Samba’s escape was confirmed shortly after it occurred, with Marwell Wildlife informing the public that she had fled her “temporary holding area.” Initial sightings were reported soon afterwards, including one in the village of Owslebury just two days after her escape. Surveillance cameras in surrounding areas captured her on several occasions, prompting an extensive search by the zoo’s dedicated team.
In a Facebook update in June, Marwell Wildlife indicated there had been “several credible sightings” of Samba in the vicinity of Bradbridge, as well as along the River Itchen near Winchester. However, these sightings have not yet translated into a successful recovery.
In July, to provide companionship during Samba’s absence, Marwell Zoo introduced a new capybara named Ripple from Blackpool Zoo. The addition was met with enthusiasm from the zoo’s staff, who described it as a positive development amidst the ongoing search for Samba.
The situation surrounding Samba’s escape and ongoing presence in the wild raises several questions regarding animal management and care at the zoo. The team at Marwell Zoo continues to keep the public updated and has expressed gratitude for the community’s support as they work diligently to navigate the complexities of recovering the capybara.
Marwell Zoo remains optimistic about the situation, emphasising their commitment to Samba’s safe return. As they monitor her activity through the cameras, the hope is to devise a successful strategy for her retrieval in the coming weeks. With continued public interest, the zoo plans to share further updates when significant developments occur, keeping the capybara’s fans informed on this remarkable story.