Bite marks clue in search for escaped capybara

Bite marks found on river plants are a match with a missing capybara that escaped from captivity seven weeks ago.

Eleven-month-old Samba has been on the loose from Marwell Zoo, near Winchester in Hampshire, since 17 March.

Her disappearance has attracted interest from around the world, and Marwell Wildlife said the latest clue came from a river bailiff who spotted an animal eating in dense riverside vegetation on 23 April.

The zoo said the bite marks and height matched the large rodent's eating behaviour and that it was "hopeful this may have been Samba".

However, it said that despite following up several reported sightings, the last one confirmed as Samba was in the Colden Common area on 22 March.

The zoo said its teams were continuing to carry out regular searches "focusing on areas where Samba is most likely to be, particularly along waterways and in dense vegetation".

It added that thermal drones and camera traps, including one near the water off Highbridge Road where the most recent possible sighting of Samba had been reported on 6 May, were also being used.

Last month two of the camera traps being used in the search for Samba placed on private land were stolen.

The team said they were "incredibly thankful to everyone who has taken the time to contact us and share information".

"While each report has been carefully investigated, we have not yet been able to confirm her location," the team said.

It added: "We've received many possible sightings, but without photos or video, it has been difficult to confirm whether these reports are Samba or muntjac deer which can look very similar."

Five days after her escape, Samba was seen resting in the sunshine at the side of a river near the zoo by a dog walker who captured phone footage as she jumped in the water and swam off.

Samba and her sister, Tango, arrived at the zoo on 16 March after being transferred from Suffolk, but both escaped the following day.

Tango was found close to the pair's temporary enclosure at the zoo and was swiftly retrieved but her sibling - described as the "more adventurous" of the pair - has been at large ever since.

Marwell Wildlife added that Tango "has been enjoying the warmer weather, often seen relaxing in the sun and napping in her hay".

She remains in her private habitat while work is completed on her new home at the zoo.

Capybaras are the world's largest rodents.

They are herbivores and are not considered dangerous to people.

In the wild they have few natural predators in the UK, so it is thought the biggest risk to Samba is traffic.

Marwell Wildlife is asking anyone who believes they may have seen Samba to take a photo and get in contact using the methods listed on its website.