Edinburgh Zoo has welcomed a new resident: an adorable baby capybara. The tiny rodent, which is yet to be named, is the first capybara born in Scotland in 18 years. Zookeepers have not yet carried out the first health check, meaning the youngster's gender remains unclear. However, animal-loving fans have already begun suggesting names.
Naming Suggestions Pour In
One fan replied to Edinburgh Zoo's TikTok announcement: 'NAME HIM DAVID ATTENBARA.' Another added: 'If it's a girl, Baby BarbaraCapybara; if it's a boy, David Attencapybara. There's no other names to consider.' A third joked: 'Please call him Capy-chino!' Unfortunately for fans of the TV presenter, the chance of the capybara being named after David Attenborough might be diminished, as Edinburgh Zoo has already named a new two-toed sloth 'Atty' in his honour.
Details of the New Arrival
The baby capybara, known as a pup, was born to Luna and Rodney, both first-time parents. At this stage, experts believe the pup weighs between 3.3 and 5.5 lbs (1.5 and 2.5 kg), approximately the same weight as a six-pack of Irn-Bru. The first health check, set to take place in the coming weeks, will confirm its size and gender.
Jonny Appleyard, an animal keeper at the zoo, said: 'We are so proud of Luna and Rodney; they're already doing an incredible job of looking after their new baby. They are such a beautiful species, and the babies are especially adorable! The baby is slowly starting to get braver and explore, so you may well catch a glimpse of them, closely followed by mum. Capybara pups grow up quickly, so we recommend visiting the zoo soon if you want to see the new arrival at their cutest stage.'
Other Zoo Births
Edinburgh Zoo also welcomed Scotland's first-ever baby sloth this week, which zookeepers have named Atty in honour of David Attenborough. Jess Brown, head keeper, said: 'This is groundbreaking not just for Edinburgh Zoo, but for Scotland. Seeing a sloth baby clinging to mum for the very first time has been so special for the whole team, and we can't wait for visitors to see little Atty. He is already showing plenty of personality, and visitors might spot a tiny face peeking out from mum's fur. Nico and Feira are both beautiful animals and fan favourites with our visitors, so we're confident he'll be a big hit!'
David Attenborough's Legacy
Sir David Attenborough, born on May 8, 1926, in Middlesex, grew up on the campus of University College, Leicester, where his father was principal. His first brush with naturalism began at age 11 when he supplied newts to the zoology department. He attended Cambridge, served in the Royal Navy from 1947 to 1949, and joined the BBC in 1952. His breakthrough came in 1954 with Zoo Quest. He became Controller of BBC Two in 1965, introducing colour television, and later director of programmes. He quit management in 1973 to resume programme-making. His series Life On Earth was watched by an estimated 500 million people worldwide. He was knighted in 1985, awarded the Order of Merit in 2005, and continues to front programmes such as Wild London. He has received numerous honorary degrees and is a trustee of the British Museum and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and president of the Royal Society for Nature Conservation.
