Overview
- Samba, a 9‑month‑old capybara, slipped out of a temporary pen soon after arriving at Marwell Zoo and remains on the run nearly two weeks later.
- Clear sightings have tracked her several miles from the zoo toward Winchester, including a video by a local walker who saw her dive into the River Itchen after a dog startled her.
- Search teams are using drones, sniffer dogs and thermal cameras, with humane traps baited with fruit and bedding scented with her sister deployed to draw her in.
- Keepers say capybaras are semi‑aquatic and can hide in riverbanks or stay underwater for minutes, which helps explain why thermal sweeps and ground teams have struggled to pin her down.
- Public interest has exploded with AI‑made images of the ‘runaway,’ yet the zoo urges residents to check ponds, rivers and gardens and to report verified sightings for a safe, humane recovery.