Mysterious Banksy-Style Murals Depict Escaped Capybara in Hampshire
In a bizarre twist to an ongoing animal escape saga, mysterious graffiti artworks depicting a capybara have surfaced on pubs near Marwell Zoo in Hampshire, where a giant rodent named Samba remains on the loose. The murals, painted in a style reminiscent of the elusive street artist Banksy, show a capybara with a parachute on its back, appearing overnight on two separate establishments.
Pub Managers Puzzled by Overnight Art Installations
Staff at The A Bar in Portsmouth and London Road Brew House in Southampton discovered the capybara murals when they arrived for their morning shifts. Skye Stevens, an employee at London Brew House, noted, "It must have appeared overnight. I think he's adorable. We've named him Banksy-bara." The artworks feature an identical stencil design and include the artist tag 'Pidg,' though the creator's identity remains unknown.
A spokesperson for The A Bar described the incident, stating, "The team arrived early this morning and saw it straight away. CCTV footage shows a masked person wearing high-vis gear, carrying a bucket and a step ladder around 3 o'clock this morning." The pub management expressed excitement rather than annoyance, adding, "We think it's really sweet and capybaras are so cute, so we aren't mad about it. It isn't massive or offensive."
Homage to Samba the Escaped Capybara
The murals are believed to be a tribute to Samba, a nine-month-old capybara who escaped from Marwell Zoo on March 17 along with her sister Tango. While Tango was quickly recaptured, Samba, described as the "more adventurous" of the pair, has evaded extensive search efforts involving thermal drones, specialist sniffer dogs, and camera traps.
Samba had been transferred to Marwell Zoo from Jimmy’s Farm and Wildlife Park in Suffolk just one day before her escape. Despite multiple reported sightings, zoo officials confirm she remains at large. A spokesperson for Marwell Zoo emphasized, "Our teams remain fully committed and continue to carry out extensive searches both day and night. We are not giving up and remain focused on bringing her home safely."
Community Intrigue and Ongoing Search
The appearance of the capybara murals has generated local intrigue, tying into widespread media coverage of Samba's escape. The graffiti adds an artistic layer to the story, with speculation about whether it's the work of Banksy or a local imitator paying homage to the missing rodent.
Marwell Zoo has urged the public to report any sightings of Samba through a dedicated 24-hour hotline at 07436 167401. The search continues in key areas along waterways and dense vegetation, where capybaras naturally seek refuge.
This incident highlights the intersection of street art and local news, creating a whimsical yet mysterious narrative around an animal escape that has captured public attention. Whether a prank, tribute, or artistic statement, the capybara murals have undoubtedly added a colorful chapter to Samba's ongoing saga.
