The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland's Edinburgh Zoo has announced the birth of a capybara, the first to be born in Scotland in 18 years. The adorable pup, affectionately called a 'babybara' by keepers, arrived to parents Luna and Rodney.
Vulnerable Early Days
Keepers are closely monitoring the newborn, as capybara pups are still quite vulnerable at this critical stage of development. The pup weighs between 1.5 and 2.5 kilograms, roughly equivalent to a six-pack of Irn-Bru, Scotland's iconic soft drink.
Growing Independence
In the coming weeks, the pup will become more independent and begin grazing. It will learn essential social behaviors from the herd, including communication sounds like barks and chirps, as well as understanding group hierarchy.
Jonny Appleyard, an animal keeper at the zoo, expressed pride in the parents. 'We are so proud of Luna and Rodney; they're already doing an incredible job of looking after their new baby. They are such a beautiful species, and the babies are especially adorable!'
'The baby is slowly starting to get braver and explore, so you may well catch a glimpse of them, closely followed by mum. Capybara pups grow up quickly, so we recommend visiting the zoo soon if you want to see the new arrival at their cutest stage,' Appleyard added.
Health Check and Naming
The youngster will have its first health check in the coming weeks. At that time, keepers will determine its gender and choose a name. Capybaras are the world's largest rodents, weighing up to 80 kilograms and measuring up to 1.7 meters in size. They are native to South America.
Recent Capybara Escape
In March, a massive search was underway for a capybara named Samba that escaped from Marwell Zoo in Hampshire. Samba burst out of her temporary enclosure just a day after being moved to the zoo. Her cellmate Tango also escaped but was quickly recovered from nearby bushes. Samba remains missing since March 16, though a possible sighting was reported near a pub in Owslebury.
