Wildlife park welcomes capybaras for the first time

A wildlife park says it wants to dispel some of the image around capybaras as it welcomes three of the rodents for the first time.

Knockhatch Adventure Park near Hailsham, East Sussex, has opened a new enclosure for its three female capybaras – Capythrine, Mary and Dorothy.

The animals arrived about four weeks ago from Germany and will now settle into their new home while the park seeks a male capybara to begin a breeding programme.

Zoo manager Ben Anderson said: "Capybaras are often portrayed as a bit of a gimmick and we want to dispel that."

Anderson added: "We have had them for a while now and everyone has been excited to come and meet them.

"They are a really interesting species and have a reputation for being the world's friendliest animals."

The capybaras are about six months old and currently weigh about 25kg.

Capybaras, which are found across South America except in Chile, can reach 60-70kg when fully grown and are the largest rodents in the world.

Anderson said that capybaras have an "interesting social hierarchy" and were "really fun to work with".

The park plans to welcome visitors to the enclosure, including offering experiences to get close to the capybaras and learn more about them.

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