New capybara for Tango as Marwell continues hunt for samba
Winchester: Marwell Zoo has welcomed a new capybara named Ripple as teams continue to search for Samba, the young rodent who escaped from the zoo earlier this year.
Ripple, a male capybara, has been taken in from Blackpool Zoo. Staff said he will provide companionship to fellow capybara Tango, whose sister Samba remains on the run.
The zoo said Ripple will be gradually introduced to Tango to allow them time to bond.”Once they’re comfortable together, they’ll move into their fantastic new home at the front of the zoo, complete with a large pool and plenty of space to explore, ready for the start of the summer holidays,” a spokesperson said.
The arrival is “first and foremost” about ensuring Tango’s welfare, the zoo added, but stressed the search for Samba is ongoing.”We know many people will be wondering about Samba,” the spokesperson said. “Welcoming Ripple does not mean we have stopped searching for her. Our efforts to find Samba continue, and her welfare remains a priority for the team.”
Samba escaped on 17 March, just one day after arriving at Marwell Zoo. She slipped out of a temporary holding area alongside Tango, who was quickly recaptured. The one-year-old capybara has since attracted global interest after multiple sightings in the Hampshire countryside. She has been spotted outside a pub and sunbathing by a riverbank.
The most recent search was in the Brambridge area on 6 July following a credible sighting by a fisherman in late June. Despite efforts using thermal drones and a specialist sniffer dog, Samba has not yet been captured.
