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March 28, 2026
‘It was bonkers’: Samba the runaway capybara inspires a wild rodent hunt
Members of the UK public join the search after specialist dog units and thermal drones have yet to locate her
TL;DR
- Samba, a nine-month-old capybara, escaped from Marwell zoo near Winchester.
- Specialist search teams with dog units and thermal drones are looking for Samba.
- She has been reportedly sighted in a pub beer garden and on a riverbank.
- Capybaras are native to South America, fast runners, and excellent swimmers.
- The zoo's main concern is reuniting Samba with her sister, Tango, due to their social nature.
- The public is assisting in the search, sharing theories and sightings online and in person.
- AI-generated images of Samba have become popular online.
- Those who see Samba are asked not to reveal her location but to contact the zoo's hotline.