The capybara is the neotropical mammal with the highest potential for production and domestication. Amongst the favorable characteristics for domestication we can list its high prolificacy, rapid growth rate, a herbivorous diet, social behavior and relative tameness. The genus (with only two species) is found from the Panama Canal to the north of Argentina on the east of the Andes. Chile is the only country in South America where the capybara is not found. The species is eaten all over its range, especially by poor, rural and traditional communities engaged in subsistence hunting. On the other hand, in large urban settlements wildlife is consumed by city dwellers as a delicacy. The sustainable management of capybara in the wild has been adopted by some South American countries, while others have encouraged capybara rearing in captivity.

Capybaras are the largest rodents on Earth. Learn about their history, behavior, lifecycle, and the conservation efforts that are being done to protect these furry creatures.

Capybara ditches his nap to get the scoop after yells ring through the rainforest. Will a strange tip lead him to the story? Readers in kindergarten to grade 2 will follow along with this WILD Action News reporter on his search for the story! There’s breaking news in the animal kingdom and the WILD Action News Team has the scoop! Each book in this fun-to-read chapter book series features an animal main character that gives an interview, revealing interesting information about its species. This series also introduces young readers to basic journalism concepts.

Did you know that capybaras yelp, bark, chirp, whistle, huff, and growl? These Central and South American rodents have unique ways of communicating with each other. Vivid full-color images illustrate the nocturnal capybara’s habitat and unique adaptations in the wild. Words to Know, fun facts, accessible text, and safety tips educate readers about how capybaras eat, reproduce, and interact with other herds.

Human exploitation of other mammals has passed through three histori cal phases, distinct in their ecological significance though overlapping in time. Initially, Homo sapiens was a predator, particularly of herbivores but also of fur-bearing predators. From about 11 000 years ago, goats and sheep were domesticated in the Middle East, rapidly replacing gazelles and other game as the principal source of meat. The principal crops, including wheat and barley, were taken into agriculture at about the same time, and the resulting Neolithic farming culture spread slowly from there over the subsequent 10 500 years. In a few places such as Mexico, Peru and China, this Middle Eastern culture met and merged with agricultural traditions that had made a similar but independent transition. These agricultural traditions provided the essential support for the industrial revolution, and for a third phase of industrial exploita tion of mammals. In this chapter, these themes are drawn out and their ecological signifi cance is investigated. Some of the impacts of humans on other mammals require consideration on a world-wide basis, but the chapter concen trates, parochially, on Great Britain. What have been the ecological consequences of our exploitation of other mammals? 2. 2 HISTORICAL PHASES OF EXPLOITATION 2. 2. 1 Predatory man Our nearest relatives - chimpanzees, orang utans and gorillas - are essentially forest species, deriving most of their diet from the fruits of forest trees and the shoots and leaves of plants.

'People in Nature' highlights South and Central American approaches to wildlife conservation and management strategy and discusses threats caused by ranching, habitat fragmentation, fishing and hunting.

Capybaras are the biggest rodents in the world! These social animals live in large groups and spend lots of time in water. Get all the facts on these huge rodents.