Marwell Zoo keepers set feeding traps to lure missing capybara Samba home

Samba the capybara is alive and well, spotted on new wildlife cameras more than six months after vanishing from Marwell Zoo, according to the Daily Mail ^[1]. The one-year-old rodent escaped her enclosure in Hampshire on 17 March alongside her sister, Tango, who was quickly recaptured.

The BBC reported that Marwell Zoo issued a statement confirming fresh photographic evidence of Samba’s whereabouts, noting she remains on private land ^[3]. Zoo staff emphasised that recovering her is a gradual process, as frightening the animal could cause her to flee to new, unknown locations. To combat this, keepers have established a feeding area to encourage Samba to return regularly to a specific spot, as detailed by the Mirror ^[2].

Samba’s disappearance triggered a massive search involving thermal drones and sniffer dogs. Despite these efforts, sightings were rare until August, when a member of the public photographed her. The zoo has kept her exact location confidential to avoid disturbing her or disrupting recovery operations. Experts note that while capybaras have no natural predators in the UK, traffic and winter cold pose significant risks to their survival.

Social media users have turned Samba’s ordeal into a running joke, with AI-generated images depicting her living the high life. Meanwhile, her sister Tango received a new companion, Ripple, to prevent loneliness during Samba’s absence. Zoo officials remain focused on bringing Samba home safely, promising updates once there is a significant development in her recovery.