Expert warns catching escaped Marwell Zoo capybara Samba will be difficult

Summarised from 4 outlets · Updated 21 Oct, 10:28 · Archive

A conservationist says recapturing escaped Marwell Zoo capybara Samba will require 'monumental effort'.

Samba escaped from a temporary holding area at Marwell Zoo near Colden Common on 17 March, shortly after arriving from Jimmy's Farm and Wildlife Park with her sister, Tango. While Tango was quickly recovered, Samba ventured beyond the zoo grounds and remains at large in Hampshire.

Derek Gow, a conservationist with decades of experience working with mammals, said recapturing her would be challenging. 'Personally, I think it's going to be a fairly monumental effort to recapture her,' Gow said. He noted that because Britain is well-provided with natural resources, 'she doesn't need to go into that trap'. He suggested using scents and dung from the other capybaras to lure her, but acknowledged the difficulty without knowing her exact location.

Gow said the River Itchen could provide Samba with a route through the landscape and a means of avoiding danger. Photographic evidence confirmed Samba was still alive in August, giving renewed hope to the search team. Experts believe she will have little trouble surviving the winter.

How it is being reported

• Expert says escaped Marwell capybara Samba will prove a challenge to catchMissing Marwell Zoo capybara is expected to have little trouble surviving the winter, but an expert has warned it will take a 'monumental effort' to catch her.Romsey Advertiser · 21 Oct, 10:12
• Expert says escaped Marwell capybara Samba will prove a challenge to catchMissing Marwell Zoo capybara is expected to have little trouble surviving the winter, but an expert has warned it will take a 'monumental effort' to catch her.Basingstoke Gazette · 21 Oct, 10:12
• Expert says escaped Marwell capybara Samba will prove a challenge to catchMissing Marwell Zoo capybara is expected to have little trouble surviving the winter, but an expert has warned it will take a 'monumental effort' to catch her.Andover Advertiser · 21 Oct, 10:12
• Expert says escaped Marwell capybara Samba will prove a challenge to catchMissing Marwell Zoo capybara is expected to have little trouble surviving the winter, but an expert has warned it will take a 'monumental effort' to catch her.Southern Daily Echo · 21 Oct, 03:30

In this story: Samba · Marwell Zoo · Derek Gow · Hampshire · River Itchen · Jimmy's Farm and Wildlife Park

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