Capybaras touch down at Wellington Zoo

Wellington Zoo has welcomed one male and three female Capybaras that arrived from Parc Zoologique de Paris this week.

“We’re very excited to have the Capybaras join us at the Zoo,” said Life Sciences Manager Dave French. “These social animals are a herd species and they are the world’s largest rodent. One of their notable features is their partially webbed feet; making them excellent swimmers. Capybaras can stay underwater for five minutes.”

The Capybaras will live in a newly redeveloped habitat near the Zoo entrance which features two water holes and shelters to suit the needs of the semi-aquatic Capybaras.

“The most significant difference between a male and female Capybara is the scent gland found on the nose of a male Capybara, making it easy to tell them apart,” said Dave. “This bump is called a morillo and is used as a way of sending out a chemical signal, particularly during breeding season.”

Although Capybaras are not endangered, their populations have been affected by hunting and habitat loss. Capybaras are native to Central America and South America with many other animals sharing nearby Zoo habitats, including the Golden Lion Tamarins; that are listed as endangered by the IUCN.

“Wellington Zoo actively supports a range of both local and global conservation projects to help save animals in the wild that live in the same range state as Capybaras. We have partnered with organizations such as Associatcão Mico-Leão-Dourado (AMLD) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to save the Golden Lion Tamarin,” said Dave.

“Good zoos work together with field conservation projects to help local communities to save animals in their home range. We then share those stories with our Zoo visitors so we all know how we can help to save animals in the wild.”

“This is a great opportunity for our visitors to come to the Zoo these school holidays and learn all about these charismatic animals and how we can help to protect their natural habitat.”

About Capybaras

Capybaras are found predominantly near ponds, rivers or lakes throughout southern Central America and northern South America.

Because Capybaras are rodents, they share some common features with rats, mice and Guinea pigs, such as their ever-growing front teeth.

Capybaras are herbivores, eating mostly grass, water plants and vegetables, as well as fruit and tree bark.

ENDS

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