Capybara Natural History
Size
Capybaras reach heights of 60cm and lengths of 2m and they can weigh between 35-65kg.
Habitat and Distribution
They inhabit grassy wetlands around rivers, lakes, marshes and swamps in South America and can be found in Argentina, Panama, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Paraguay, Brazil and Uruguay. They are well adapted to their watery habitats with eyes and ears high on their head so they remain above the water when they swim. They also have webs between their toes to help with swimming.
Age
They can live for around 12 years in captivity.
Diet
They are herbivores which graze on grass, fruits, tree bark and aquatic plants.
Groups and Breeding
Capybaras tend to live in large family groups led by a dominant male. Both males and females communicate with clicks, squeals and grunts to indicate that they are ready to mate. Females give birth to between 1-8 young after 130 days.
Threats
Thanks to their large range these animals are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN. However, they do face threats from hunting (for their meat) and farming and land clearance for agriculture.
Interesting Facts
Capybaras are the worlds largest rodents.
The Capybara During Your Day Out in Kent
Here at WWP you can visit our four capybara on the large lake opposite the tiger enclosure. There are currently 3 girls named Rio, Papuri and Jari and 1 boy.