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Santa Barbara Zoo to exhibit two young capybaras

Posted at 1:20 PM, Jun 06, 2019
and last updated 2019-06-06 16:20:44-04

The world’s largest rodent is returning to the Santa Barbara Zoo.

Two young capybaras will go on display at the zoo starting Friday, June 7.

The sisters, along with three other siblings, were born on Aug. 5, 2018, at the Greater Vancouver Zoo. The zoo says they were hand-raised after their mother passed away.

Capybaras (Photo courtesy Santa Barbara Zoo)

 

They will share an exhibit near the Zoo Train Station with the zoo’s three female giant anteaters. A temporary fence currently separates the two species while the animals are getting to know each other.

It’s been four years since the zoo has had a capybara on exhibit.

Capybaras (Photo courtesy Santa Barbara Zoo)

 

Capybaras are sometimes called “swamp hogs” or “water pigs.” They are most closely related to guinea pigs but can weigh as much as 150 pounds and stand as tall as 2.5 feet.

Capybaras live in Central and South America and make their homes near standing water like ponds and marshes.

Capybara (Photo courtesy Santa Barbara Zoo)