Tough task to catch 'rapid' capybara, says dog walker

3 hours ago

Indy Almroth-WrightSouth of England

Samba made a speedy exit into the river after being spotted by dog walker Claudie Paddick on Sunday

A dog walker who spotted a capybara on a riverbank says it will be a challenge to catch the runaway after watching the large rodent's swift plunge into the water.

Nine-month-old Samba has been on the loose since last Tuesday after escaping from Marwell Zoo near Winchester a day after arriving from Suffolk.

On Sunday, Claudie Paddick accidentally spooked the capybara with her dog, Growler, while walking along the River Itchen near Winchester. "I thought it was a deer – you don't casually see a capybara on your walks," she said.

Teams from the zoo are scouring the area using thermal drones but Paddick warned: "I don't think it's going to be very easy... she was rapid."

News image — Claudie Paddick spotted Samba resting in the sunshine at the side of the River Itchen, near Winchester, on Sunday

Claudie Paddick - she is wearing a navy coat and hat and is standing by a river. — Claudie Paddick spotted Samba resting in the sunshine at the side of the River Itchen, near Winchester, on Sunday

She said she "had no idea there was a capybara on the loose" until she showed her footage to neighbours.

"They said 'are you living in the Dark Ages?' it's the missing capybara from Marwell.

"But the good news is it was happy sunbathing on the riverbank."

She added her dogs would now be staying on their leads during walks in the area.

Marwell said there had been no further confirmed sightings since Sunday's encounter.

Marwell Wildlife Two capybaras inside a hut. They look like typical small rodents and are stood next to a pile of straw. — Tango, another nine-month-old capybara, pictured here with Samba, escaped at the same time but was found nearby

Laura Read, chief executive officer of Marwell Wildlife, said teams have had several false alarms after picking up muntjac deer with the drones as they are about the same size as Samba.

"We've got nets and we have got the option of a dart gun which would temporarily knock her out... but if she is anywhere near the water that is a no-go so it would be the case of trying to grab her with a net," she added.

Read described Samba as "the size of a small to medium dog - not as big as a spaniel, light brown but she is not fully grown – as she is only nine months old".

The zoo has urged people in the area to keep their dogs on leads to avoid scaring Samba.

Anyone who believes they have seen her is asked to contact the zoo immediately and send a photo or video with details of the location so they can confirm the sighting.

Tango, a second nine-month-old capybara who also arrived from Jimmy's Farm and Wildlife Park in Suffolk, escaped at the same time as Samba but was found nearby.