‘The most amazing personality’: North Florida Wildlife Center welcomes a capybara
The wildlife center is asking the public to help choose a name: Diego, Chiquito or Captain?
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) - The North Florida Wildlife Center is inviting people to come see and eventually come pet their newest resident...a capybara!
The capybara doesn’t have a name just yet, but he arrived on Monday and is already drawing a crowd at the North Florida Wildlife Center.
Brenda Hollis visited from New York. It’s the second capybara she’s seen, but this one was up close.
“They look very rodent-like. It reminds me of the R-O-U-S’s in the Princess Bride,” Hollis said with a laugh.
Capybaras are the largest species of rodent in the world. They are native to Central and South America. This one weighs about 50 pounds.
“Our little man is a very small size for a male capybara,” Animal Care Manager Darian Dowse said as she pointed out his fancy feet. “They spend a lot of their time in the water and have specially designed feet that allow them to be incredible swimmers.”
The capybara seemed right at home, lying down, flipping onto his back and closing his eyes as Dowse rubbed his belly.
“I’m not going to lie, I now understand the hype. Our capybara friend has completely blown my mind ... the noises that he makes make my heart just squeeze, they’re so incredibly cute, and he just has the most amazing personality,” Dowse said.
As soon as he settles in, the capybara will be welcoming visitors into his new home for a chance to pet him, feed him and take photos.
The wildlife center has not yet named the capybara, and is asking the public to weigh in and help them choose.
Here are the three leading contenders: Diego, Chiquito, and Captain.
Some people on the center’s Facebook page have chosen their favorite, but others are chiming in with their own suggestions, from Cecil to Captain Crunch!
Vote for your favorite name in the comments of the wildlife center’s Facebook post by clicking here.
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