Missing Capybara Samba Spotted on Wildlife Cameras After Six Months on the Run

Samba the capybara, who escaped from Marwell Zoo in March, has been spotted on newly-installed wildlife cameras, zoo officials announced Tuesday. The rodent has been on the run for more than six months, with her sister, Tango, having been found shortly after their joint escape.

Wildlife cameras captured photographic evidence of Samba in August, and additional cameras have since been installed. Zoo keepers are establishing a feeding area to encourage the capybara to become familiar with the location and return regularly, a key step in their plan to safely recover her.

"Recovering Samba is a gradual and carefully managed process," the zoo stated. "Although we know the area she is in, it isn’t simply a case of being able to approach and collect her. 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."

To avoid disturbing Samba or disrupting ongoing efforts, the zoo is keeping the exact location of the capybara confidential, as she is currently on private land.

Samba's disappearance has garnered significant public attention, with numerous social media users posting AI-generated images of the capybara participating in various activities. Animal experts suggest that a capybara could survive in the UK due to abundant food sources like grass and plants along riverbanks, and the absence of natural predators. Potential risks to Samba include traffic and the possibility of struggling to find food during freezing winter temperatures. As social animals, solitary capybaras can also be prone to stress and depression.