Marwell Zoo capybara sighting camera images captured Samba this month, giving keepers fresh evidence that the one-year-old capybara is still in the area after escaping in March. Marwell Zoo near Winchester in Hampshire is continuing efforts to recover her after the latest pictures were taken on private land.
The new images follow a gap that began after Samba’s last sighting in August. Wildlife cameras were then set up to track her movements, and the latest photographs are the first new visual update since then.
Marwell Zoo in March
Samba escaped from Marwell Zoo on 17 March, less than a day after arriving, after breaking out of a temporary enclosure she shared with her sister, Tango. Tango was quickly recaptured, but Samba remained missing.
The zoo says the latest images came from private land, and it has kept the exact location confidential. That approach lets staff keep watch without making the area public while the search continues.
July at Marwell Zoo
Keepers introduced a male capybara named Ripple alongside Tango in July. Samba has been described as the more adventurous of the pair, which fits the pattern of her remaining away from the enclosure after the escape.
To draw her back, staff have established a feeding area so she can become familiar with the location and return regularly. The setup is intended to keep her using one area rather than pushing her away with a direct approach.
The practical next step is continued monitoring around the feeding area, with the camera network used to check whether Samba keeps returning. The zoo knows the area she is using, but approaching her directly could frighten her and make recovery harder.
