World · Europe · 5 hrs ago
New camera images show missing capybara Samba still roaming free
New camera images show Samba is still roaming free more than six months after she escaped from Marwell Zoo near Winchester, in Hampshire.
Samba escaped shortly after arriving in March from Jimmy’s Farm and Wildlife Park with her sister, Tango, who was quickly recaptured.
The one-year-old capybara has been spotted in the area before, including on a riverbank.
Her exact location is being kept confidential because she is on private land and staff want to avoid disturbing her.
The zoo is using cameras and a feeding area to encourage her return while keeping stress to a minimum, since frightening her could make recovery harder.
Staff are focused on bringing her home safely and say they will share further news when there is a significant update.
New wildlife-camera images show Samba, a one-year-old capybara missing from Marwell Zoo, is still at large more than six months after escaping.
The images were captured this month in an area where cameras were installed after her last confirmed sighting in August.
The zoo says it is taking a gradual approach to recovering her to avoid frightening her and causing her to move away.
Staff have set up a feeding area and are keeping the exact location confidential because Samba is on private land.
Her sister Tango, who escaped with her, was quickly recaptured.
- Who
- Samba, a one-year-old capybara from Marwell Zoo.
- What
- New wildlife-camera images show she is still at large. The zoo is working to recover her safely.
- When
- The images were captured in October 2026, more than six months after her escape on 17 March.
- Where
- Near Marwell Zoo, by Winchester in Hampshire. Her exact location is confidential.
- Why
- She escaped from a temporary enclosure shortly after arriving at the zoo. The reason for her escape is not stated.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Samba escaped from a temporary enclosure at Marwell Zoo less than a day after arriving with her sister Tango.
The zoo introduced a male capybara named Ripple alongside Tango.
The zoo confirmed new photographic evidence of Samba’s whereabouts after her last confirmed sighting.
Wildlife cameras captured further images of Samba in the area.
- Age
- One year old
- Escape date
- 17 March
- Zoo
- Marwell Zoo, near Winchester in Hampshire
- Last confirmed sighting
- August
- Recovery effort
- Wildlife cameras and a feeding area
- Location
- Private land; exact location confidential
3 sources
What people are saying
Recovering Samba is a gradual and carefully managed process.
It's vital that we keep any stress to an absolute minimum, as frightening or disturbing her could cause her to move away from the area and make her safe recovery more difficult.
This is an important step in our plans to safely recover her.