Capybaras are the world's largest rodents, thriving near water in South America. Their expansion into urban areas creates new coexistence opportunities and welfare considerations.
Urban capybaras in cities like Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo present a welfare and coexistence case study. Populations living in urban parks and along waterways generally thrive but face risks from dogs, vehicle traffic, and human disturbance. Their high sociality means group disruption causes welfare harm. Feeding by the public can alter natural behavior and create habituation. Tick management as a zoonotic disease risk requires population management approaches that avoid causing welfare harm to capybaras. Community education that promotes respectful coexistence creates the conditions for urban wildlife thriving alongside people.