In Corrientes, a province rich in biodiversity, Ñato’s story, a capybara raised as a pet, teaches about the consequences of keeping wild animals as pets.
Ñato was found by a family when he was less than a year old. Being adopted as a pet, he was raised in a domestic environment and fed cookies, bread, and other unhealthy foods. This diet, different from what corresponds to his species – mainly composed of vegetables – affected his development and behavior.
As he grew, the animal began to show the typical characteristics of a capybara: large size, physical strength, and habits that were incompatible with living in a house. The damages and the risk for the family led to the difficult decision to move him to Bioparque Temaikén.
There, Ñato was received at the Temaikén Species Recovery Center (CRET), where he began a process of adaptation to recover his natural behavior. Although the transition was difficult since he was accustomed to an inadequate diet and human interaction, he was able to move forward. With patience and effort, he managed to accept a proper diet and learn to adapt to an environment closer to his natural habitat.
A New Home with Boundaries
Currently, Ñato lives in a space designed to simulate his natural environment, sharing his habitat with fish and a caiman. However, prolonged time with humans affected his ability to socialize with other capybaras, preventing his reintegration into nature.
Ñato’s story is an example of the harm caused by keeping wild animals as pets. Thousands of species are taken from their habitat to become pets, harming their health, altering ecosystems, and contributing to biodiversity loss.
Awareness and Action: The “I Am Not a Pet” Campaign
To combat this issue, organizations like Fundación Temaikén, Instituto Jane Goodall Argentina, and WCS Argentina launched the “I Am Not a Pet” campaign. Its objective is to educate about the effects of keeping wild animals as pets and the illegal wildlife trade.
How can you help?
- Avoid acquiring wild animals as pets. Make sure that the pets you adopt come from responsible sources.
- Report illegal wildlife trade. Report any suspicious activity to local authorities.
- Promote responsibility on social media. Do not share content that glorifies keeping wild animals as pets or encourages their purchase.
Ñato’s story reminds us that each species has a role in its ecosystem and that respecting their place in nature is essential to preserve biodiversity.
What is the best place for a life like Ñato’s as a capybara?
The best place to live, or rather the capybara’s habitat, also known as capybara or chigüiro, is found in the regions of South America, such as wetlands, forests, savannas, and river basins and marshes. In general, capybaras prefer environments that contain:
- Freshwater bodies: Capybaras use water bodies to cool off, take refuge from predators, and mate.
- High and dry areas: Capybaras need high and dry areas to feed and rest.
- Firm ground: Capybaras need firm ground to sleep, ideally with thick vegetation for protection.
Capybaras are amphibious animals that adapt well to habitat changes caused by human activity. They can be found in areas transformed into plantations or pastures. In Argentina, capybaras are common in wetlands in the central and northern regions of the country, down to the south of Buenos Aires province.
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