Birth of a capybara
Here are the first pictures of our small capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) born in early July!
This is the first pup of our new breeding pair introduced to each other last year.
The capybara, with a height at shoulder of 60 centimeters, is the largest rodent in the world!
This amazing mammal with partially webbed feet always lives near water: it feeds on aquatic plants and plunges into water in case of danger. Thanks to its ears, eyes and nostrils all located near the top of its head, it can keep an eye on the surroundings while the rest of its body remains hidden under water, like the hippopotamus. The capybara is an excellent swimmer and can stay underwater for up to 5 minutes.
Capybaras live in small groups of about ten individuals made up of a dominant male, one or more females, subordinate males and several young. They are either diurnal or nocturnal, depending on the hunting pressure and the season.
The species is not threatened in the short term but it has long been hunted for its meat and leather. In some parts of the Amazon, however, it is becoming increasingly rare.
