A new capybara has arrived at Marwell Zoo as the search for missing animal Samba continues almost four months after she escaped.
The zoo has welcomed Ripple, a male capybara from Blackpool Zoo, who is being gradually introduced to resident female Tango behind the scenes before the pair move into a newly refurbished enclosure in time for the summer holidays.
Zoo bosses stressed that Ripple's arrival does not mean the search for Samba, who escaped in March, has come to an end.
In an update, Marwell 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."
The latest development comes just days after staff deployed additional camera traps in the Brambridge area following a reported sighting by a fisherman, raising fresh hope that Samba may still be living in the wild.
Samba escaped from Marwell Zoo in in March after storm damage caused by strong winds breached her enclosure.
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Despite an extensive search involving zoo staff, drones, thermal imaging equipment, wildlife experts and dozens of reported sightings from members of the public, she has so far avoided capture.
The fugitive capybara has since become something of a local celebrity, with regular reported sightings across parts of the Itchen Valley, including around Colden Common, Shawford, Bishopstoke and Brambridge.
While many reports have proved inconclusive, the zoo has repeatedly said it investigates credible sightings and continues to monitor areas where she is believed to have been seen.
Capybaras, the world's largest rodents, are semi-aquatic animals native to South America and are strong swimmers, making rivers, lakes and reedbeds ideal habitats.
Marwell said Ripple's arrival is primarily about ensuring Tango's long-term welfare, as capybaras are highly social animals that thrive in the company of others.
Once the introduction period is complete, Ripple and Tango will move into their new home at the front of the zoo, featuring a large pool and plenty of space to explore, where visitors will be able to see them during the summer holidays.
Meanwhile, the hunt for Hampshire's most famous missing capybara continues.
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