Best time to travel to Rio de Janeiro

Capybara Watching (Breeding Season) in Rio de Janeiro

In Rio, capybaras live in parks so you'll have an opportunity to watch baby capybaras play and socialize right in the middle of the city

Best time: October–November

Capybara Watching (Breeding Season)
Capybara Watching (Breeding Season)

Capybaras are one of those animals that are used to the urban environment, so they often live in parks and near ponds. They are quite similar to their close relative—the Guinea pig—but a lot bigger. Capybaras are comfortable both on land and in water. In fact, they are great swimmers and can even sleep in the water leaving only their noses above the surface. When it's too hot, ​they just plunge into the water and stay there until it gets cooler. Capybaras are very social and usually, live in groups of 10-20 individuals.

The interesting thing is that when a female delivers baby capybaras, they rejoin the group and then keep suckling from different females, so it's an alloparental species, which means that all individuals act in a parental manner. Breeding peaks in Octob​er and November, so it's the perfect time to watch this wonderful process. Capybaras are gentle and usually allow humans to pet and feed them.

Practical info

When is the breeding peak of capybaras in Rio de Janeiro?

October and November mark the breeding peak of capybaras in Rio de Janeiro. The baby capybaras play and socialize with their family in parks around the city, offering a remarkable opportunity for visitors to observe them. Show more

Where can we find capybaras in Rio de Janeiro?

Capybaras are commonly spotted in parks and close to ponds throughout Rio de Janeiro as they are adapted to the urban environment. Visitors have access to an exceptional opportunity to connect with these animals and enjoy their playful behavior in the heart of the city. Show more

How do capybaras behave during the breeding season?

During the capybaras' breeding season, they exhibit an alloparental nature, allowing all individuals of the group to act as parents. This social interaction and feeding process can be observed in detail by visitors in parks across Rio de Janeiro. Show more

What is the unique feature of capybaras compared to other animals?

Capybaras are exceptional swimmers and can sleep in water by keeping only their noses above the surface. They are also highly social animals that can live in groups of up to 20 individuals. Visitors to Rio de Janeiro's parks can enjoy petting and feeding them, provided they are gentle and accustomed to human presence. Show more

How do humans interact with capybaras in Rio de Janeiro's parks during the breeding season?

Human interaction with capybaras in Rio de Janeiro's parks includes petting and feeding them during the breeding season. Capybaras are friendly and unafraid of humans, allowing these interactions to occur. These experiences offer visitors a unique opportunity to observe capybaras' social behavior as well as their incredible capacity to work as a group to raise their young. Show more

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Last updated: by Eleonora Provozin