Escaped Capybara Samba Remains Elusive Six Months After Zoo Escape

A capybara named Samba is still living in the wild six months after escaping from Marwell Zoo in Winchester, England, despite an extensive search involving drones, camera traps and trained trackers.

Samba and her sister Tango arrived at the zoo in March 2026. The two animals escaped from a temporary enclosure shortly after their arrival, but Tango was quickly recovered. Samba managed to leave the zoo grounds and disappear into the surrounding countryside.

A Long Search Across Hampshire

Zoo staff have spent months searching for Samba around waterways and areas of dense vegetation near the River Itchen.

Teams have used thermal-imaging drones, camera traps and specialist tracking dogs to try to locate the young capybara. Members of the public have also reported possible sightings, although many turned out to be other animals, including muntjac deer.

Camera Traps Confirm She Is Alive

Despite the difficulty of finding her, camera traps have provided evidence that Samba has survived in the countryside.

The surrounding landscape contains water and plenty of vegetation, providing the capybara with food and shelter. These same conditions have also made it difficult for search teams to locate her.

A Capybara Far From Home

Capybaras are the world’s largest rodents and naturally spend considerable time around water. Samba’s ability to swim and hide in dense vegetation has allowed her to remain difficult to track.

Marwell Wildlife has continued monitoring the area and adapting its search methods as new information becomes available.

The Search Continues

The zoo says its priority remains bringing Samba home safely. Staff are continuing to monitor potential locations and ask members of the public to report possible sightings rather than approaching the animal themselves.

Marwell has also advised people who think they have seen Samba to take a photograph and provide the location so the animal team can investigate the report.

An Unusual Wildlife Story

What began as the escape of two young capybaras has turned into a months-long search across the Hampshire countryside.

For now, Samba remains free and elusive, while the zoo continues its efforts to find her and return her safely to Marwell.

Sources

• The Guardian — “In search of Samba – the fearless fugitive capybara” — September 30, 2026.
• Marwell Zoo — “Samba Update” — latest information on the ongoing search.