Capybaras in the news

One of two fugitive capybaras captured

PROVINCIAL

by 570NEWS STAFF

Posted Jun 13, 2016 6:00 am EDT

Last Updated Jun 13, 2016 at 6:00 am EDT

One fugitive caught. One to go.

After a two and a half week taste of freedom, one of the High Park capybaras has been caught.

A High Park Zoo official confirmed the capture on Sunday but has not yet provided any further details.

A video posted by Renda on Instagram shows staff taking the capybara away in a crate.





The search continues for the second capybara.

The two female capybaras escaped from their pen at the High Park Zoo on May 24, as zoo workers were moving a third capybara into the enclosure.

One of them was spotted on June 5, but was not captured. City staff said traps were set the next morning.

Capybaras are the world’s largest rodents. Fully grown, they can reach over four feet in height and can weigh as much as 140 pounds – they also look like large guinea pigs. They enjoy swimming and don’t like children.

The escape led to a parody Twitter account, an online video game, and joking comments from Mayor John Tory about forming a search party.