Brevard Zoo's Capybara parents Clancy and Bailey welcomed these three blonde babies on St. Patrick’s Day. They are healthy and nursing well. Capybara are herbivores, meaning they eat the leaves of grasses and other plants. They are fussy though, and are known to only eat certain plants and ignore ones they don't like. Only a week after they are born, baby Capybara can eat grass, although they continue to drink mother's milk. 

Capybaras are the world's largest rodent. They live in groups throughout South America in the thick forest areas that grow along bodies of water. They have webbed feet, dense fur and eyes, ears and a nose located high on their head; All to aid them when they spend time in the water, a place they go to look for tender greens to nibble and keep cool in the heat. They have the ability to stay underwater for several minutes, which greatly aids them when the need arises to hide from predators like jaguars, pumas, ocelots and anacondas. Since they can grow up to 4.5 feet long (1.37 m), 25 inches tall (63.5), and weigh up to 150 pounds (68 kg), they are also hunted by human beings for their meat and hide.

Photo Credit: David Saylor

This is the second litter for parents Clancy and Bailey. Clancy, the sire, was born at the Buffalo Zoo in New York in 2011.  Bailey, the dam, was born at the Alameda Park Zoo in New Mexico in 2010. They have been housed at Brevard Zoo for two years. The pups are on exhibit in the La Selva area of the Zoo and guests are already enjoying watching them play.