Where is Samba the missing capybara? Sniffer dogs join search after Marwell Zoo escape

A massive search is underway for a capybara which remains on the loose after escaping from a zoo.

The giant rodent, named Samba, burst out of her temporary enclosure just a day after being taken to Marwell Zoo, Hampshire.

Samba’s cellmate Tango joined her in the escape on Tuesday, but was quickly recovered from the bushes not far from the zoo.

Capybaras are the world’s largest rodents, weighing up to 80kg and measuring up to 1.7 metres in size, and are native to South America.

Samba is yet to be found after escaping on March 16, though a possible sighting was reported near a pub in neighbouring Owslebury.

In its latest update, Marwell Zoo said the search, which is into its sixth day, is still ongoing and a specialist dog unit has been following her scent.

They said they have narrowed the search area, with previous reports coming in from as far afield as Stonehenge, 35 miles away.

Residents who might stumble upon the rodent are urged to contact the zoo so she can be safely recovered.

A Marwell Zoo spokesperson said: ‘This has led us to a reduced search area, not far from where she was originally sighted, which has meant we could better deploy thermal drones to try and locate her.

‘So far we have been unsuccessful in finding her, but as the dogs have picked up her scent on both days, we are keeping everything crossed that we can pinpoint her location as soon as possible.’

Laura Read, CEO of Marwell Zoo, previously said: ‘Tango didn’t stray too far, hiding in bushes in the zoo, and is now safely returned. Samba was more adventurous, and our specialist teams have been looking for her relentlessly since then.’

Capybaras love water, so locals are urged to check gardens, ponds, rivers and local water environments where Samba may be hiding.

She is also more likely to travel at night, so locals have been urged to keep an eye out for her after sunset and be careful when driving.

Samba arrived in Hampshire earlier this week after coming from Jimmy’s Farm and Wildlife Park in Ipswich alongside Tango.

The zoo has asked residents in surrounding areas to check gardens, ponds, and rivers, as these are places where Samba may be hiding.

Claudie Paddick has described the moment she spotted the missing capybara resting in the sunshine on the banks of the River Itchen.

The mother-of-two was out for a dog walk with her black labrador Growler, and her sausage dog, Patsy, when Growler began barking when he saw Samba.

The rodent then jumped into the river and swam off, but not before Paddick sent a photo to her neighbour, who called the zoo.

Around 15 people were at the scene and started using heat-seeking technology to end the six-day search.

Mrs Paddick, a family lawyer, said: ‘It then jumped in the river and it didn’t come back out, and I was like, what the hell is that?

‘A capybara is something I have never seen or even heard of before, but now I’m a bit of an expert. We see lots of animals when we go walking down the river, but never a rodent from the Amazon.’

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