Samba the capybara, a nine-month-old newcomer to Marwell Zoo in Hampshire, has become an unexpected celebrity after escaping her enclosure earlier this month. The saga, which now stretches into its second week, has captured the hearts and imaginations of locals and animal lovers far beyond the United Kingdom, with sightings, social media campaigns, and even children’s artwork fueling a growing sense of community around the search for the world’s largest rodent.
The adventure began just a day after Samba and her sister, Tango, arrived at Marwell Zoo from Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park in Suffolk. Both capybaras managed to slip out of a temporary holding enclosure on March 17, 2026. While keepers quickly retrieved Tango, Samba proved more elusive, vanishing into the rural landscape near Winchester. According to Marwell Zoo’s chief executive, Laura Read, the animal’s escape is reminiscent of a similar incident three decades ago, when two capybaras also made their getaway and were eventually found along the same stretch of water currently being searched.
Since her escape, Samba has been spotted several times, with confirmed sightings backed by photo or video evidence near the River Itchen, particularly in the areas between Twyford and Allbrook. On Sunday, March 22, a dog walker named Claudie Paddick encountered Samba sunbathing on the riverbank. Initially mistaking the capybara for a deer, Paddick later realized she had stumbled upon the now-famous fugitive. As she recounted to the BBC, “I thought it was a deer – you don’t casually see a capybara on your walks.” The encounter ended with Samba plunging into the water, demonstrating the very skills that have made her so difficult to catch.
Capybaras are semi-aquatic animals native to South America, closely related to guinea pigs, mice, and rats. They are gentle, calm creatures, and according to Read, pose no risk to the public. What makes Samba especially tricky to track is her natural affinity for water. Capybaras are strong swimmers and can remain submerged for up to ten minutes to evade predators—or, in this case, zookeepers. “They always hide in the water for safety and security in the wild,” Read explained. “We know as long as she’s not too cold, she’ll be ok.”
Despite the challenges, Marwell Zoo’s search operation has been anything but passive. Teams have deployed thermal drones, camera traps, and are now laying humane badger traps baited with melon—one of Samba’s favorite treats—along the riverbanks where she’s been seen. The zoo is also reviewing footage from camera traps and relying on tips from the public. “We are following up on as many sightings as we feel are legitimate,” Read told local reporters, noting that some supposed sightings as far afield as Birmingham were ruled out as impossible. Others turned out to be muntjac deer, which are about the same size and color as a young capybara.
The search has become a community affair. Residents of Twyford have shared AI-generated images of Samba enjoying village life, from playing bowls to leading a group of cyclists. Seven-year-old Sienna from Southampton drew a heartfelt picture with the message, “Please come home Samba. Tango is missing you.” Her mother, Sammy, told the BBC, “Capybaras are her favourite animal. Let’s hope Samba is found soon.”
The story has even crossed the Atlantic, with CBS News Chicago reporting on “Simba,” as Samba was mistakenly called, and describing the search efforts in “the village of Hampshire.” The international attention has only increased the sense of urgency and camaraderie among those involved in the search.
Marwell Zoo has been clear in its instructions to the public: do not approach Samba, but do report any sightings with a photo or video and a precise location. “We strongly advise against approaching Samba or disturbing any area she may be hiding, to prevent causing her stress,” the zoo stated in a release. “Under no circumstances should a member of the public try to capture her by themselves.” The welfare of the animal is the zoo’s “highest priority,” and they believe Samba is likely more active at night, increasing the difficulty of their efforts.
According to Read, Samba is about the size of a small to medium dog, light brown in color, and not yet fully grown. At just nine months old, she is still developing and, as a social animal, is likely missing the companionship of her sister, Tango. “It’s important the pair are reunited,” Read emphasized, as capybaras typically live in groups in the wild and thrive on social interaction.
While Samba’s health and safety are generally not a major concern—she has access to plenty of food, faces no natural predators in the Hampshire countryside, and shows signs of coping well—the recent drop in temperatures has been noted as a potential risk. Nevertheless, Read expressed confidence in Samba’s instincts: “The video we saw the other day she looked fairly relaxed and she looked fairly well in terms of body condition so that gave us quite a lot of reassurance that she’s coping alright and her natural instincts have kicked in. The temperature is a little bit of a concern because it has got a lot colder over the last two days but she’s likely to have found somewhere to burrow into.”
As the search continues, the zoo remains committed to using every tool at their disposal, from drones and camera traps to the sweet allure of melon. While the operation is ongoing, the hope remains that Samba will soon be reunited with Tango and return to her new home at Marwell Zoo. Until then, the people of Hampshire—and indeed, the world—wait and watch, united in their concern for one very adventurous capybara.