It’s all feeling a bit Love Island at Drusillas Park, where a confident new capybara boy has entered the zoo. One-year-old Rupert arrived from Belgium over the summer and was greeted by two potential love interests! But was he ‘their type on paper’ or did he give them the ick?
Rupert travelled to the Sussex zoo from Mon Sauvage Wildlife Park and Safari in Belgium, joining resident females Squash and Pumpkin in the hope of finding his perfect match and playing his part in Drusillas’ successful capybara breeding programme.
With two blonde beauties vying for his attention, Rupert certainly has his work cut out. But the young capybara isn’t hanging around; he’s already been putting in the graft and has been spotted getting cosy with both sisters, sharing ‘smooches’ in the capybara pool!
Keepers carried out gradual introductions when Rupert first arrived, giving the trio plenty of time to get to know each other. And while capybaras may be internet-famous for their famously chilled-out personalities, first dates can sometimes be anything but relaxing, with females known to see off prospective suitors and make them work hard for their affections. In fact, the sisters’ mum, Clementine, rejected dozens of potential mates before finally finding her match in their dad, Augustus.
Fortunately for Rupert, there was no dramatic dumping or Casa Amor-style twist as they got to know each other. Instead, things have moved quickly, with the new boy pulling each of the sisters for a chat and growing close to both Pumpkin AND Squash.
Zoo Manager at Drusillas Park, Mark Kenward, said: “Rupert is a self-assured young capybara who is already showing plenty of character, and keepers believe he has what it takes to lead a small group. He’s very sure of himself and seems to know exactly what he wants.”
He continued; “Despite all the memes about capybaras being the most laid-back animals around, introducing them can actually be quite dramatic. The females can be very clear about whether they approve of a new male, so we took things slowly and carefully to give everyone the best possible chance of getting along.”
“Thankfully, Squash and Pumpkin seem to have decided Rupert is a keeper. He’s hit it off with both of them, and we’re delighted to see the three of them settling in so well together.”
Rupert’s arrival is particularly exciting for Drusillas because the zoo has enjoyed considerable success breeding capybaras in recent years.
The sisters’ mum, Clementine, welcomed six babies during her time at Drusillas, including big brother Satsuma and sisters Tango, Marmalade and Swede. Clementine and her partner Augustus have since moved on to new zoos, with Augustus continuing his capybara family at Dartmoor Zoo, where he has already welcomed more babies with a new partner. Meanwhile, Satsuma, Tango, Marmalade and Swede have all found new homes at zoos across the UK.
Moving capybaras between zoos is an important part of coordinated breeding programmes, helping to ensure that suitable animals are paired and that the species can continue to thrive in zoos across the country.
Mark continued: “Clementine, the sister’s Mum, certainly kept us on our toes when it came to finding her a partner. She put a string of suitors through their paces before finally settling on Augustus, so we’re hoping her daughters might prove a little more welcoming!”
“Pumpkin and Squash seem to have skipped all the drama, though, and Rupert appears to have made a very good impression. It’s early days, but we’re keeping everything crossed that this particular love story has a happy ending.”
So far, Rupert appears to have made a strong start with both girls, leaving keepers hopeful that this could be a case of ‘Capy Ever After’. With three capybaras now happily sharing their habitat, everyone’s keeping their fingers crossed that the next big development could be the pitter-patter of tiny paws.
Located just off the A27 in Alfriston, Drusillas Park is open daily from 10am. For more information, please telephone 01323 874100 or visit www.drusillas.co.uk
