More drone flights have been taking place over the River Itchen in its hunt for runaway capybara Samba.
Marwell Zoo chief executive Laura Read said teams flew drones last week and again this week to narrow the search, but Samba remains missing.
She said Samba is probably “living quite happily” in the river for now, with “plenty of vegetation and a river to cool off in”, although staff are “still absolutely determined” to bring her home before the colder months.
At the zoo, her sister Tango is “doing really well” in an off-show habitat after male capybara Ripple arrived from Blackpool Zoo ahead of their move to a new enclosure.
"Hopefully [Samba], Ripple and Tango can live together here at Marwell Zoo in their bespokely built habitat, with a brand new pool and many other things for them to explore."
Samba, an 11‑month‑old capybara, has been on the run since she escaped from a temporary enclosure at Marwell in March after arriving at the zoo with Tango.
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Staff have spent months trying to track her movements along the River Itchen, following public and fishermen’s reports of possible sightings on private and public land.
Fishermen are among those reporting possible Samba sightings along the River Itchen while out on the water.
Days after escaping a temporary Marwell enclosure in March, Samba was photographed outside The Ship Inn pub in Owslebury, not far from the zoo.
A dog later startled Samba by the river, sending her into the water before disappearing into thick vegetation.
Since then, staff have focused searches on waterways and dense cover where she is most likely to find food and shelter, but without new verified images it remains unclear exactly where she is.
The zoo urged anyone who spots Samba to call its “capybara hotline”, staffed 24 hours a day, on 07436 167401 and send a photo if possible, so staff can check whether it is Samba or another species.
The zoo has said strong winds caused storm damage that breached Samba's enclosure before her escape.
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