Paradise Wildlife Park is excited to welcome a new species to the zoo. On the 23rd of August, two very special guests arrived in the evening to join the family here at Paradise. Capybara’s Cora from All Things Wild and Mani, which translates to Peanut in Spanish, is from Shepreth Wildlife Park. Our keeping team are very happy to say that both Cora and Mani have settled into their new home comfortably and can be found roaming around next to our Tapirs, Tamara and Temuko. As they get used to their new surroundings and neighbours Mani and Cora will be kept separate from our Tapirs, however as they settle in and grow more confident we hope to introduce them as a mixed species habitat, mimicking their co-existence in the wild.
To celebrate our new arrivals here at the zoo, here are some top facts about Capybara’s:
Common Name: Capybara
Scientific Name: Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
Diet: Herbivore. Feeding mainly on grasses and aquatic plants.
Reproduction: Gestation period 120-150 days. The average litter size is 4 young.
Where can you find Capybara’s: Capybara are found throughout South and Central America, in countries like Panama, Colombia, Venezuela and Peru, Brazil and Paraguay and Northern Argentina, where they are most commonly found in swamps, marshes, rivers and lakes.
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Fact 1:
The Capybara is the world’s largest rodent. Adults reach a length of 130cm and weigh around 60kg.
Fact 2:
They are excellent swimmers and have several adaptations for their semi-aquatic lifestyle, including a large amount of fatty tissue and partially webbed feet.
Fact 3:
Offspring are highly developed at birth, and are able to follow the female and feed on grass within the first few weeks of life.
Fact 4:
Capybaras are naturally threatened by jaguars, caimans and anacondas, and their young can be taken by ocelots and harpy eagles.
Pop down and visit Cora and Mani next time you visit!
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