Capybara on the Run: Urgent Search Underway After Zoo Escape

A surprising escape has taken place at a British zoo, where a young capybara named Samba has been on the loose for nine days.

This large rodent, native to South America, broke free from its enclosure at Marwell Zoo, located near the city of Winchester.

The last confirmed sighting of Samba was by a woman walking her dog along the River Itchen, where the capybara suddenly jumped into the water.

Samba had only recently arrived at Marwell Zoo, coming from Jimmy's Farm and Wildlife Park in Suffolk, and managed to escape just a day later.

The dogwalker, Claudie Paddick, initially thought she saw a deer, not realizing it was actually the missing capybara, due to its unusual appearance.

Paddick shared her encounter with the BBC, expressing her surprise at seeing such an unusual animal during her walk.

A photo of the capybara was taken by Paddick, showing it near the riverbank, giving a glimpse into its temporary life in the wild.

Paddick warned the zoo staff that capturing Samba might not be easy, describing the capybara as rapid and elusive.

It wasn't until her neighbor informed her about the missing capybara that Paddick realized what she had actually seen.

Marwell Zoo's CEO, Laura Read, mentioned that there have been several false sightings, with thermal drones mistakenly identifying muntjac deer as the capybara.

Read described Samba as being the size of a small to medium dog, with a light brown coat, and urged the public to keep an eye out for the missing animal.

The zoo confirmed that there have been no new sightings since Sunday, and Samba's companion, Tango, was found soon after their escape.

The zoo has advised the public not to approach Samba if spotted, to avoid causing her stress, and warned against any attempts to capture her alone.

The zoo's primary concern is the welfare of the capybara, noting that Samba is likely to be more active at night.

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