Savage in Recife on the loose (6)
I believe the answer is:
fierce
'savage' is the definition.
('fierce' can be a synonym of 'savage')
'recife on the loose' is the wordplay.
'on the loose' indicates an anagram.
'recife' is an anagram of 'FIERCE'.
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for fierce that I've seen before include "Savage - vehement" , "Aggressive; intense" , "Intensely aggressive" , "Powerfully intense" , "intensity" .)