Seven Capybara Pups: a Record

Five of the seven young capybaras in a single photo. With a bit of luck, visitors may also hear the whistling sounds they use to communicate. Photo: Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo

Their keeper, Nikola Kučerová, said: “Capybaras are rodents belonging to the cavy family, which means their young are born surprisingly well developed. They can see and walk from their very first day.” At birth, the young are fully dependent on their mother’s milk, but they begin to graze and browse within few weeks, gradually trying vegetables as well.

These superb swimmers from the wetlands of South America are undoubtedly some of Prague Zoo’s most popular animals, despite being relatively common both in the wild and in human care. The zoo receives numerous enquiries about their enclosure from visitors and callers alike, and they rank among the most frequently adopted or sponsored mammals. Their popularity is fuelled in part by the many quirky videos on social media and internet memes in which they feature. Their scientific name, Hydrochoerus, literally means “water pig”.

Capybaras grow very quickly and from an early age the pups are tiny copies of their parents, who arrived at Prague Zoo in 2023. Photo:Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Nikola Kučerová added: “Our group currently consists of a breeding pair, three offspring from last year, and now seven pups. Visitors can therefore see a total of twelve capybaras at the zoo.” The three males born last year will, however, soon move to a new home at Spišská Nová Ves Zoo in Slovakia.

As a rule, the pups follow their mother or, somewhat unusually, one of their older brothers (pictured). For now, they are avoiding the water. Photo: Oliver Le Que, Prague Zoo