Keepers have welcomed the arrival of a friendly male Capybara, which marks the addition of the world’s largest rodent species to Woburn Safari Park for the first time.
Related to guinea pigs and rock cavies, Capybaras are distinguished by their barrel-shaped body, short head, reddish-brown fur, partially webbed toes and long teeth.
Seven-year old James previously lived at a wildlife parks in the Cotswolds. He was collected by Woburn’s keepers at the end of last week. Now living at ‘Capybara Caves’ in the Foot Safari, the semi-aquatic rodent is settling into safari park life swimmingly and has spent the last few days exploring the waterfall, water pool and caves in his new home.
Animal keeper Hannah Bigot said: “James is proving to be a very sociable creature and he only seems to want to eat his breakfast while I talk to him softly!
"I am already learning a lot about his preferences, particularly that he is not fussed about peppers or kale but will do anything for some cabbage. The long-term plan is to get James a girlfriend and hopefully have a herd of breeding Capybaras who will live together with spider monkeys in a new enclosure which is due to open at the end of the year.”
Natural swimmers and native to savannas and dense forests near water in South America, Capybaras are also herbivores and graze on grasses, aquatic plants, fruit and tree bark in the wild. Although not a threatened species, they are hunted for their meat and are often prey for jaguars, pumas and anacondas.
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