Capybaras: Getting Comfortable
Posted at 10:00 am April 29, 2009 by Laura Weiner
The capybaras living on Elephant Mesa at the San Diego Zoo are doing great. Every morning they wake up, stretch (it’s very cute), and start walking toward me looking for a folivore biscuit or a slice of carrot. If I don’t arrive fast enough, in their opinion, they start cooing and vocalizing for their breakfast. In my last blog, Welcome, Capybaras, I was spending time getting them to eat out of my hands and allowing me to touch them. We have progressed wonderfully since then.
All nine of them will come over for food and sometimes it looks like I am swimming in a sea of large rodents! They have all been mostly polite taking food from my hand, but sometimes they get pushy and will chase one another out of the way. Along with hand feeding I have been working on getting them used to being touched. Checking their teeth, the pads on their feet, and general health care is always easier when they will come over for a scratch. So far five of them will allow me to touch them. In the beginning they are always scared and will do a sort of sideways hop to get away from my hand. But if they happen to stick around for more than five seconds, something clicks and they really start to enjoy it. All of their hair will slowly stand on end and their eyes will close. Usually if I can get to this point with one of them, they will come over again for touching easily the next time.
This entire group of capybaras is going to be living at the Zoo’s new Elephant Odyssey exhibit and this means training them for transport. As much as a parade of capys would be cute, I don’t think we could stop them from eating all of the leaves on the way over there! There is a side yard at their exhibit where most of their food is placed. At different times of the day I allow them access to this yard to eat. If you happen by the exhibit and see nine capys waiting patiently by the door, you’ll know why. Once I open it they all pop through the opening and enjoy their meal. When it comes time to move them to their new exhibit, it will be much easier than trying to round them up while on exhibit.
They will have a huge pool and many areas to hide out in if they choose to at Elephant Odyssey. Make sure to come visit them on the Mesa before they head back to be the present-day representative of the much larger Pinckney’s capybara.
Laura Weiner is a senior keeper at the San Diego Zoo.
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April 29th, 2009 at 1:33 pm
Thanks for the update, Laura. It sounds like you have a great time with the Capys, and they with you.
It will be fun to hear about their reaction to their new surroundings at EO.
April 29th, 2009 at 2:59 pm
The description of how a capybara closes its eyes while its hair stands on end while being petted is adorable. That’s something that would be fun to see, let alone experience firsthand. Although most people probably might not describe a capy as cute, I think they are. I’m a pushover for almost any animal except snakes (sorry to the snake people) and think they each have their own unique charms. Wish I could come visit the capybaras.
Thanks for another engaging update. I enjoy reading them!
April 30th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Laura, I can’t wait! Will you also be moving to the E.O. and also taking care of the meerkats that recently moved close to it? Your blogs have been really interesting and helpful!
April 30th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Hi Shirley,
Thanks for reading my blogs and always visiting me at the meerkats. I will be staying on the Elephant Mesa, so I will be saying goodbye to the capybaras. Also the meerkats that moved are no longer under my care, but I visit them often. There are many changes coming to the Zoo in the next few months, and I look forward to seeing the outcome just as you do!
May 1st, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Laura,
I am happy to hear that the capybaras are being so well taken care of. I happen to think they are very cute, and have liked them since I was a kid. I grew up in San Diego (sadly, no longer live there), and remember running around the San Diego Zoo when it was free for under 16 years old! (yes, awhile ago!). I try to get back to visit whenever I can & hope I can get back this summer for a visit to the capys!
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Nice update about the capybaras, Laura! Thanks!
May 2nd, 2009 at 2:22 pm
Thank you Laura. I LOVE the Capybaras. I became aware of such animals on my trip with the San Diego Zoo to the Pantanal in Brazil. I was very excited to see them at our Zoo. I can’t wait until they have babies, they are very cute too.
May 5th, 2009 at 2:00 pm
Laura,
It is hard for me to leave the Panda Exhibit, but these guys are so cute I have to make time to go see them.
Especially when they are all lined up in a row. on Sunday they were sleeping in a half circle around the one of the Tapir’s. It was a sight to see.
May 7th, 2009 at 7:49 pm
I feel so calm and peaceful when i see video of these gentle, nuturing creatures. I believe that the Garden of Eden was the original home of our beloved capybara.
May 8th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Thank you so much for keeping us upadated!!! I have to say hands down the Cabybaras are my FAVORITE animals and I make it a point to see them about every other weekend.
May 29th, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Hi im ramo currently doing a project, a study on capybara in the national zoo here in malaysia..part of my project is to compare housing, diet habitat of the capybara in the zoo with those in some of the famous zoos around the world such as san deigo zoo..i came across this blog and thought i might find some help here..i do really appreciate if anyone have any information about how capybara is being handled in san dieog zoo,,,,what type and the amount of food given, behavior of capybara, and how do the enclosures look like…also tips on how to improve breeding behavior and how to handle new borns of capybaras..here in our zoo we have only five capys with a new born..