Capybaras, the world's largest rodents, are increasingly kept in zoos and as exotic pets, requiring specialist knowledge of their highly social nature and semiaquatic lifestyle for adequate welfare.
Capybara welfare in captivity is frequently compromised by failure to understand their social and environmental requirements. Single or pair keeping without full group access is common in exotic pet settings and causes demonstrable chronic stress. Their thermoregulatory dependence on water means that outdoor keeping in temperate climates without heated water access is inappropriate. In zoos, capybara groups that are too small or lack stable social hierarchies show increased aggression and stress-related behaviours. When their requirements are met, capybaras are highly social, interactive, and apparently contented animals that engage readily with enrichment and social activities. The growing popularity of capybaras in social media has unfortunately driven demand for exotic pet keeping that often fails to meet these requirements.