Capybaras, the world's largest rodents, have specific social, aquatic, and thermoregulatory needs that must be met in zoo settings to ensure good welfare for these highly gregarious animals.
Capybara welfare in captivity centres on social housing, water access, and appropriate diet. Keeping capybaras alone or in pairs is insufficient — their social complexity requires groups of at least four to allow natural hierarchical dynamics, grooming, and alarm signalling. Pools must be large enough for swimming, not merely wading, as immersion is essential for thermoregulation and skin health. Capybaras denied water access develop dry, cracked skin and thermoregulatory stress. Grazing on grass should form the majority of the diet; excess fruit or concentrate feeds disrupt gut flora. Enrichment should focus on browse, novel substrates, and opportunities for coordinated group behaviours such as communal resting.