Adorable Capybara Pups Born at Cape May Zoo

OMG, aren't these guys cute? Buttercup, one of two pregnant capybaras at Cape May Zoo, gave birth to two adorable pups on Sunday.

Cape May Zoo made the happy announcement this week on Facebook.

In a scandalous turn of events, someone leaked the pregnancy announcement post to Buttercup and Marigold, and they saw all the excitement the post produced. Buttercup, eager to be the star of the show, got a little impatient (to put it lightly) and decided to give birth that very same day!!

She welcomed TWO healthy pups on October 26th! Congratulations to Buttercup and Goomba! Stay tuned as we wait for Marigold to give birth sometime over the coming weeks!

 

A Little Info on Capybaras

Capybaras? Aren't they rodents? Well, yes, but not just any rodents.

By the way, capybara is pronounced 'cap-uh- BAR-uh'.

Capybaras are the biggest rodents on Earth, according to National Geographic. They grow to be about twice the size of beavers (also rodents).

Like beavers, capybaras, natives of South America, are strong swimmers. Their pig-shaped bodies are adapted for life in bodies of water found in forests, seasonally flooded savannas, and wetlands. That must be why they seem to have acclimated so nicely in Florida.

The Cape May Zoo informs us that it has a capybara breeding program, overseen by the Species Survival Plan Program.

This program aims to breed responsibly to produce a genetically diverse and demographically stable population.

Remember, the Cape May County Zoo is one of our local South Jersey treasures, and it is absolutely free of charge.
Cape May Zoo is open every day except Christmas,  from 10 am to 4:30 pm, at 707 Route 9 in Cape May Court House.

We will keep you updated on Marigold's final days of pregnancy and the impending arrival of her pups.