A new male capybara has arrived at the Ramat Gan Safari, delighting staff as the popular South American exhibit expands with the addition of a second young male.
The capybara, named Zion, is 1 year and 7 months old and will soon join the safari’s South American area. He was transferred from the Hai-Park zoo in Kiryat Motzkin, where he had arrived from a zoo in Belgium.
Safari officials said the move was aimed at improving the welfare of another capybara at the park, Capibaruch, by allowing him to live in a social structure more suited to the species’ behavioral needs. Capybaras are highly social animals, and living in pairs or groups significantly improves their quality of life.
“Capybaras live together. Capibaruch arrived here earlier this year, and we were looking for a companion for him,” said Shelly Eldad, who oversees the safari’s South American exhibits. “We hope that eventually a female will join them as well. For now, they can already communicate. They love being together, even though at the moment they’re separated by a fence. They’ve already started chirping to each other.”
Both capybaras are just over a year old and currently weigh about 50 kilograms (110 pounds). They are expected to grow to around 80 kilograms (175 pounds) as they mature.
Capybaras are not considered endangered in the wild, but safari officials said they will serve as ambassadors for South America’s rich biodiversity, where many species do face the risk of extinction. Caretakers believe Zion and Capibaruch — the latter already a social media favorite — will help convey conservation messages to visitors.
“Capibaruch is an excellent swimmer. They have webbed feet, and it’s amazing to watch him in the water,” Eldad said. “The new capybara has a small pool behind the scenes, but on Sunday we plan to bring him into the large yard with the main pool, so he can really swim.”
The capybara’s name is a nod to actor and comedian Zion Baruch, who welcomed the tribute. “I once wanted a rhinoceros named after me, and there was already a rhinoceros named Zion at the safari,” he said. “But a capybara is no less worthy.”
The animals are housed at Ramat Gan Safari, Israel’s largest zoological park.