Capybara caught on camera 7 months after zoo escape
UPI

Capybara caught on camera 7 months after zoo escape

Ben Hooper | October 28, 2026

A British zoo said a capybara on the loose since March has been photographed by wildlife cameras set up by the search team.

Oct. 28 (UPI) -- A British zoo said a capybara on the loose since March has been photographed by wildlife cameras set up by the search team.

The Marwell Zoo in Winchester, England, shared new photos of the capybara, named Samba, snapped by a wildlife camera this month.

Zoo officials said they have been tracking Samba's location since previous photos were captured in August, but capturing the fugitive rodent "is a gradual, carefully-managed process."

"While we know the area she is in, it's not simply a case of approaching and bringing her back," officials wrote on social media. "Our priority is to keep her stress to an absolute minimum, as frightening or disturbing her could cause her to move away and make a safe recovery more difficult."

The zoo said additional cameras have been installed and the search team has set up a feeding area for Samba to encourage her to remain in the area.

Samba and a second capybara, Tango, escaped less than 24 hours after arriving at the zoo in March. Tango was quickly located nearby the zoo, but Samba eluded pursuit and was spotted days later in the nearby village of Owslebury.

Capybaras, native to South America, are the world's largest rodents.

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