About two weeks ago, four capybaras were born at Schönbrunn Zoo in Austria. For the two parents, it is the first joint offspring. "The young capybaras still spend the day mainly sleeping and drinking milk – but they also eat some hay. They are precocial, which means that the young animals are already so developed at birth that they can follow the parents independently. Above all, they enjoy the warm weather and from time to time dare to bathe in the water together with the adult animals," reports animal keeper Alexander Keller.

Capybaras, are the largest living rodents with a shoulder height of up to 50 cm and belong to the guinea pig family. They like to stay in the water. They have short webs between their toes and can dive for minutes. "Capybaras are native to South America, so they inhabit our South America Park together with Anteater, Vicunia, Seriemas and Rheas. The landscape of the complex is modelled on a South American Prairie. Crisscrossed by hills, streams and ponds, it offers the animals a lot of variety and our visitors great perspectives," says Zoo Director Stephan Hering-Hagenbeck.

Photos: Daniel Zupanc