June 21, 2024 • 18 mins
National Capybara Appreciation Day is just around the corner! To celebrate, Rick and Marco speak with Senior Wildlife Care Specialist Kimberly Hyde to find out more about the world’s largest rodent. This South American water-loving mammal might be known for its cuteness factor, but it also helps support a healthy ecosystem. Tune in to find out lots of fun facts, including how long they can hold their breath underwater.
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Hi, I'm Rich Swartz.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
When is the world? I'm Marco Wentz.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Welcome to Amazing Wildlife, where we explore unique stories of
wildlife from around the world and uncover fascinating animal facts.
This podcast is a production of iHeartRadio's Ruby Studio and
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, an international nonprofit conservation organization
which oversees of San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
All Right, an Eagle.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
In our last episode about the milky storks, you wrapped
up the episode teasing us about this episode being about
some kind of water.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Love and animal at the zoo.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Yes, that's true, Marco.
Speaker 4 (00:37):
So I started looking into it, and I figured it's
probably not going to be a bird species like flamingos
or penguins.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Probably not, you.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
Know, I was thinking you might go that way, But no, no,
that's not it. Because we just talked about the storks.
So I then look at the palmer bears, because you know,
they spend a lot of time in the ocean and
they are in fact considered marine mammal. True.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Right, However, I know.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
You well and to know that you're probably going to
do something people may not expect, right, And like I
don't know, like a fishing cat, right, a cat that
doesn't mind being in the water.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Oh you know me well, Marco, you know me very
well and as good as an episode about fishing cats
would be.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Which now I'm thinking maybe we should have that. I
went a different route.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
I want you to think more herbivore and less carnivore.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Who okay, okay, hmmm water love an herbivore? Oh, I know,
I know, okay.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
Hippo right, the word hippopotamus pretty much translates to water
horse or are we headed to the hippos?
Speaker 5 (01:30):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (01:30):
So close, Marcos, so close.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
In fact, the animal that we are going to be
talking about today is sometimes lovingly called the water pig,
not the water horse, but it's not related to pigs
at all. We're headed to the zoo to find out
more about the semi aquatic copy bras.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Yes, capybaras.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
How could I forget about those adorable oversized rodents.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Not to worry, Marco, I have been able to connect
with one of our wildlife care specialists and she is
getting us behind the scenes to learn more about the
original road of unusual size.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
This is going to be great, all right, Let's go.
Speaker 5 (02:07):
I am Kimberly Hide. I am senior wildlife care specialist.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
And where we are right now Kimberly is the bedroom area,
for lack of a better term, in Elephant Odyssey, where
the copy Bora and the bird's taper reside.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (02:25):
That is?
Speaker 3 (02:26):
And then with that too, we're also this betrom areas
right next to one of the public paths, so our audiences,
you're listening, and now you might hear a bus tour
go by. You might hear some of the crowd noises
going by, because everyone's here enjoying the zoo today.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
But we're here to talk about the copy Bura.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
We're super excited, by the way. Thank you for spending
the time and for our listeners too. When I walked
in here, you guys, I'm smiling like some Hey, a
lot of herbivor smells a lot of fun herbivor smells.
And I guess over here a little tapey or snap
poking out saying hi to So this is a really
unique area too, right, And I have to say, like,
when I think about wildlife, you know a lot of
people go to Africa in Asia, which is amazing, but honestly,
(03:02):
My go to is the kid has always been Central
South America. So I'm super stoked to talk about this
very unique, very large rodent. Right, can you describe this
animal for us?
Speaker 5 (03:10):
Yeah, Kappa bars are actually the world's largest rodent. They
can range anywhere from about one hundred and ten about
one hundred and seventy pounds on average, so very large rodent.
People describe them a lot of times as like a
giant guinea pig. They look to be like a size
of a large dog. They have really coarse brown hair,
(03:32):
can range from tan to like really dark brown hair.
And they have short little ears that they wiggle very
much like hippos. One of the cutest things. I love
watching that. And then yeah, the little short snowl little
webbed feet, So they're one of the I think, one
of the most adorable animals.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Of course, I mean I agree, right, when we think
about rodents, right, it's worth mentioning for a listeners because
I'm sure they're thinking about it right now. All the
nuances of rodents on planet Earth, right, and the standard
kind of rodent we're all familiar with the house the rat.
We have Namibian pouch rats here as ambassadors are a
really unique species. But now I'm thinking about like the
porcupine as an example, Right, isn't that the largest in
North America? Because I want to stargest in North America
(04:10):
is the beaver?
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Oh right? Beever I forgot about the beaver.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
I forget about the beaver.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Right, that's what we're saying, right, So really unique, but
this one because it's aquatic too. The area.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
Can you, for a listeners talk about that environment that
these animals are in, right, kind of different than our beaver,
right or porcupine?
Speaker 5 (04:25):
Yeah, I mean in South America, they're going to find
more like swampy grasslandy areas. Sometimes it's savannah like, but
it always has to be near a body of water
of some right, because the body of water is going
to be very much part of their whole life. They
will swim in it to cool down, to find food,
a lot of grasses and aquatic plants as part of
(04:48):
their normal diet. They will also use it to as
basically a defense mechanism. That's the easiest way to get
away from predators, just to swim away. And so water
plays a really big role. So they want to find
a place that has a large enough body of water
to submerge and to get away, and to also just
live and eat and thrive in.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
It's a great environment. But I also love that you
mentioned it is an opportunity for them to escape from predation.
Being the largest road and on the planet. What usually
predates these.
Speaker 5 (05:18):
Animals, you know, as an adult, A lot of the
larger carnivores in the area, so puma's jaguar, sometimes anaconda
depending on how large the anaconda is will definitely prey
upon them, and actually humans as well. But for like
the small babies, any small predator a slats even heard
sometimes all possums, so we'll go after baby capavirus.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
I know that lot.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
So there's a lot in that jungle they have to
kind of contend with, you know. But it's probably worth
noting why they're so social as well. That probably helps
them out right looking out all those corners in the
jungle right very much.
Speaker 5 (05:49):
So, Yeah, social groups are very important. During let's say
the dry season around the water hole, they'll find sometimes
up to one hundred individuals in a group that are
sort of just milling about and interacting and socializing. During
the wetter season, maybe forty still a large group. But yeah, definitely,
social is a very big part of how they survive
(06:11):
as a group because we have usually males, dominant males,
subordinate males, and then a lot of females and a
lot of pups as well.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
So with mentioning dominant male is subordinate, et cetera, is
there a true social structure within these large groups or
is it more of a loose sort of family groups that.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Have come together.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
In the larger groups, it's sort of loose, but when
you get into an actual breeding group, you do usually
have a dominant male, one dominant male to a group
of the say four to fourteen females. Oh co. And
then sometimes there are subordinate males that're sort of on
the outlying of that breeding main breeding group. But yeah,
there is very strong dominant males that really defend that
(06:53):
space in those females and actually hold on to that status.
Is the dominant male for years and years and a
lot of times they're very rare for subordinate male to challenge.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
Really, woh, that's interesting. I'm really curious, and I know
we're here at Eliphant Odyssey. Can you talk a little
bit about the coffy boras of guests can encounter here
of course.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Yeah, So we have a group of eight kapy baras
currently here in Alpha Dnssee, we have an adult male
and female. Bowie is the male and Rosalina is the female.
And then we have their pups. So they had a
little of pops born in July of last year. They're
about ten months old. We still have one female and
one male from that group. And then we have a
(07:32):
new group of pups that was just born in April.
We have three in that group right now and they're
all females.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
That's exciting really, all right, everyone loves a coffee bar.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
I mean before the interview the other day, I was
scrolling on my TikTok and you know, if it's not
a kitten, it's a coffee bar and something super cute.
There's something about them, the little faces, you know, it's
such a stoic face. One morning, I remember seeing an
adult half in out of the water and little bubbles
coming up behind him. I'm not saying what is happening,
but he had the most stoic face, right. But it's
that cuteness, right, But that's what I love about some
(08:04):
of these animals. I know there's something about a copy
brol just makes a kid smile I think at an
adult right.
Speaker 5 (08:09):
Oh, yeah, every day I come to work, I have
a smile on my face every time I get to
see them. They're different, they're doing something interesting and fun
and either they're swimming or they're interacting with each other socializing.
They're socializing with the tapers. I mean, every day is
so just great to be here, you know, I love it.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
That's awesome.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Well, going back to a little bit of what Marco
is saying and the bubbles coming up. Yes, there are
a lot of sounds.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
And noises and vocalizations that they do make.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
From what I understand, can you explain and share some
of those with us. You don't have to imitate them
if you but if you want.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
To go right ahead and try.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (08:43):
So, vocalization is a really strong way to communicate with
each other. So they have anywhere from like these high
pitched squeals and sweaks to sometimes really like guttural groans
and a growl sound, and so they all mean different things.
A lot of times when you hear like sort of
a chittering squeal, that's more of like sort of content sound.
(09:05):
Sometimes appeasement and then when you get to like a
bark or the growl, that's when you get into aggression
or sometimes even frightened sounds. You'll have a really loud,
sharp bark when they get startled or something frightens them.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
I didn't realize they're as vocal.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
I have worked a lot in my past with porcupines,
and I know there's a lot of different things they'll
do with their teeth as well to communicate.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Do copies do that also?
Speaker 3 (09:30):
For sure?
Speaker 5 (09:31):
The chitter, the chattering, and so they basically clack their
teeth together. That's really aggressive. So like when they are
maybe quarreling with another copy bar or sometimes their taper,
they will clack their teeth together and that's really like warning,
do not try to approach me or come at because
I will use these teeth basically, And like.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Other rodents, they have the ever growing incisors.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Do you find as a WILDLFE care specialist, you're replacing
things that they're chewing up and.
Speaker 5 (09:57):
Chewing through or Yeah, so we always have to provide
something for them to chew on. So a lot of
times we want them to chew on the correct things,
so not try to like destroy some of the things
we have on habitat that they shouldn't chew on. So
we do provide them with thick logs or big branches
for them to chew on, kind of keep those teeth
worn down, because yeah, they do not have that. Then
(10:18):
the teeth can get overgrown and then it basically doesn't
allow them to eat and chew their food properly, and
so then you fall into issues with that, and so
you want to give them something to chew on that's
appropriate for them to keep their teeth worn make sense.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Totally, such a unique adaptations they have.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
But I'm curious, like, because you are the specialist, my friends,
So if you have like a bunch of kids in
front of your right now, what's your one like the
coolest copy borrow fact that you can think of, maybe
something that maybe people don't really know about these unique
little rodents.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
That's a good big road, big I know what I said,
like big roads.
Speaker 5 (10:54):
Let's see one of well, one of my favorite. I
don't know how well or unknown, but I do love
the fact that they can actually fully submerge and stay
underwater for five minutes.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Oh wow, five minutes, oh wow wow? And they're moving
about are they grazing in the water too, you think.
Speaker 5 (11:11):
Sometimes yeah, sometimes the low aquatic plants underwater, they will
go and dive for and actually graze upon them. But
it's also another way that if let's say they're being
chased by a predator, they jump in that water, submerge,
they can just swim for that five minutes and just
get away.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
There you go. Wow, I love it.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
I've also seen them as sort of these like unofficial
purchase for the local birds in the area as well
of a really unique animal. And great reminded to you
again of the diversity of rodents out there, right, I
guess said, don't get all squirmy on us when we're
talking about with the rodent family, because there's so many
unique species out.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
There, like the copy bar and the porcupine of course.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
Yeah, so thank you.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
This is really really cool.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Yeah, and one thing I want to point you know,
you're mentioning some of these cool adaptations, you know, being
able to graze over the plant material. You live in
these large groups near the water, and they're hunted by
other animals. And that does bring me to the fact
that we just recently talked about some other species that
are danger We've talked a lot on this podcast about
conservation efforts and the work being done in collaboration. But
(12:08):
the coppy bear is not in danger. The copy bear
does not have a big program in place to save
them because they're doing okay.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
But I want to point out.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
To our audience that this is a great example though,
of the species that the more we get to understand
them and know them, the less chance we will have
to create some sort of conservation program. And they are
so important for a healthy ecosystem, which is also another
topic we cover quite a bit in this podcast, but
the importance of overall healthy ecosystem. So they're keeping the
plants at the proper length if you will, or growth patterns,
(12:38):
they're feeding other animals. They're also then fertilizing with their
droppings as they go throughout their environment, and obviously in
the wild too, the chewing behavior that we have here
in the zoo, they do that in the wild, so
they're helping to maintain plants at certain.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Levels with the chewing that they do as well. So
it's kind of cool to think about.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
Although we're not leaning heavy into the conservation side, it's
also a really good reminder of how important every species
is to their environment.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
One hundred percent, right, even like elef and Odyssey is
such a unique area or highlighting species that were here
how many many moons ago in the past. But for me, honestly,
what I like about this particular area it shows different
species that thrive in these unique jungle environments in South America.
People I'm probably thinking right now at jaguar, maybe a
harbeat eagle.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
You mentioned the anaconda as well.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
It's a wicked right, but people forget all the other
nuances like the tape heer as well, Like these are
really large herbivores that are found in these vibrant, rich
jungles in South America.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
So you work at a pretty unique spot, my friend,
So I agree.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
M hmm. Well, on the heels of what Marco just
said too, I want to ask because we have listeners
of all ages, and a lot of our listeners are
wild left care specialists, you know, in the making their dreaming.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
They want what we do, So tell us a little bit.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
What is it like to be able to come in
every day and take care of these really cool rodents.
Speaker 5 (13:51):
I mean, I find it a joy every day. I'm
excited because these guys are one of the few animals
that we can actually interact with and sort of build
a good relationship with. They're super smart animals, being rodents,
they have a really good way of problem solving, and
we can use training a lot of times to sort
(14:13):
of stimulate that mental need of theirs to work through problems.
And so I get to actually interact with them by
changing them different behaviors, to show different parts of their
body to go into a crate if they need to
transport somewhere, or basically make their lives in my life
a little bit easier to care for. So I really
(14:35):
enjoy just going out on habitat and hand feeding them
or just sometimes conversing with them. Honestly, like I say,
they vocalize to us, especially the pups that were born here.
They know us wildlife care specialists really well, and we
can sort of vocalize back in our own way, and
we sort of have that nice bond with them.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
That's really special. And that's one thing I've often said
that's you know, the wildlife we care for ends up
being extended family percent. We are with them so often,
we care for them so much. It's not like having
a dog or cat at home. It's very different than that,
but there's still a connection there, and I really appreciate
you sharing that with us and with our audience. Yeah,
of course, Well, I really appreciate you sharing what it
means to you and the connection we all have with
(15:19):
the wildlife we care for.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
And also thank you so.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Much for taking the time to talk with us in
our audience about copy bras today.
Speaker 5 (15:25):
Of course, anytime. I will talk about them forever if
you let me.
Speaker 4 (15:29):
All right, maybe there's a take two or episode to
you somewhere in the future, right, Thanks again, I really
appreciate it, of course. Oh Rick, thank you for getting
us behind the scenes there with Kimberly. I love being
back there with.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
The kapy barras and tape you're hanging out and eating.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
It was wicked, oh and Kimberly with all the capy
bar knowledge, I mean respect right.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Right exactly, and I'm so glad it worked out spending
time with Kimberly and man, yes, so much information about
capy bras. I think though, I was most impressed with
their size. I mean, sure, they look like they might
be the size of like a big dog when you
look at them from a distance. When you're walking through
the zoo. But up to one hundred and seventy pounds,
that's a lot of rodent.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Man, one hundred percent, a whole lot of rodent. And
you know, I gotta admit I was very.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
Impressed alone that they can hold their breath up to
five minutes. Oh and kids, please remember the average human
can usually hold their breath for only about one to
two minutes unless they've done some special training, right, friend, right,
So please please don't try to be like a copy
barra when it comes to holding your breaths.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
All the advice man, very good advice gaby Buras have
all kinds of cool adaptations from those parsley webed feet
to countless vocalizations for communicating and speaking of copyre communications
that reminds me. Coming up in July tenth is copy
bur Appreciation Day. You can keep an eye out for
the San Diego zoos social media for fun facts and
great photos of copy burs. And of course, because it's
(16:55):
copybar Appreciation Day, you have to share with everybody you
know all the great things you've learned about copy.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
Bur one hundred percent, and I mean the cuteness, I mean,
forget about it.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
All right, they are adorable.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
You cannot scroll through copy Bar Appreciation Day and not
fall in love with those adorable faces.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
I know, I know, I know.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
We try to make sure people always have an appreciation
and respect for all wildlife, which you can't deny the
cuteness factor when it comes to copy of era.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Seriously, it's almost too much, right, it really isn't that?
Speaker 5 (17:24):
You know what?
Speaker 3 (17:24):
That actually kind of reminds me of another well known
bear that people can't help but fall in love with
their cuteness.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
Oh yeah, sir, I wonder what kind of bear you're
thinking about.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
Well, we do have giant pandas coming back to the
San Diego Zoo.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Oh my guess is it really time? I mean, are
we finally going to do this thing?
Speaker 5 (17:42):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (17:43):
I think Are you ready for this? I think it's time?
Speaker 2 (17:44):
All right?
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Be sure to subscribe and tune into our next episode,
in which we learn more about the giant pandas that
are coming to the San Diego Zoo and the continuation
of our giant panda conservation research.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
Marco Went and I'm Rick Schwartz. Thanks for listening.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
For more information about the San Diego Zoo and San
Diego Zoo Safari Park. Go to SDZWA dot org. Amazing
Wildlife is a production of iHeartRadio. Our supervising producers are
Nikkia Swinton and Dylan Fagan, and our sound designers are
Sierra Spreen and Matt Russell. For more shows from iHeartRadio,
check out the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you
(18:27):
listen to your favorite shows.
Hi, I'm Rich Swartz.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
When is the world? I'm Marco Wentz.
Speaker 3 (00:08):
Welcome to Amazing Wildlife, where we explore unique stories of
wildlife from around the world and uncover fascinating animal facts.
This podcast is a production of iHeartRadio's Ruby Studio and
San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, an international nonprofit conservation organization
which oversees of San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.
Speaker 2 (00:26):
All Right, an Eagle.
Speaker 4 (00:27):
In our last episode about the milky storks, you wrapped
up the episode teasing us about this episode being about
some kind of water.
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Love and animal at the zoo.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
Yes, that's true, Marco.
Speaker 4 (00:37):
So I started looking into it, and I figured it's
probably not going to be a bird species like flamingos
or penguins.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Probably not, you.
Speaker 4 (00:45):
Know, I was thinking you might go that way, But no, no,
that's not it. Because we just talked about the storks.
So I then look at the palmer bears, because you know,
they spend a lot of time in the ocean and
they are in fact considered marine mammal. True.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Right, However, I know.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
You well and to know that you're probably going to
do something people may not expect, right, And like I
don't know, like a fishing cat, right, a cat that
doesn't mind being in the water.
Speaker 3 (01:08):
Oh you know me well, Marco, you know me very
well and as good as an episode about fishing cats
would be.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Which now I'm thinking maybe we should have that. I
went a different route.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
I want you to think more herbivore and less carnivore.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Who okay, okay, hmmm water love an herbivore? Oh, I know,
I know, okay.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
Hippo right, the word hippopotamus pretty much translates to water
horse or are we headed to the hippos?
Speaker 5 (01:30):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (01:30):
So close, Marcos, so close.
Speaker 3 (01:32):
In fact, the animal that we are going to be
talking about today is sometimes lovingly called the water pig,
not the water horse, but it's not related to pigs
at all. We're headed to the zoo to find out
more about the semi aquatic copy bras.
Speaker 2 (01:46):
Yes, capybaras.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
How could I forget about those adorable oversized rodents.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Not to worry, Marco, I have been able to connect
with one of our wildlife care specialists and she is
getting us behind the scenes to learn more about the
original road of unusual size.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
This is going to be great, all right, Let's go.
Speaker 5 (02:07):
I am Kimberly Hide. I am senior wildlife care specialist.
Speaker 3 (02:13):
And where we are right now Kimberly is the bedroom area,
for lack of a better term, in Elephant Odyssey, where
the copy Bora and the bird's taper reside.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
Is that correct?
Speaker 2 (02:25):
That is?
Speaker 3 (02:26):
And then with that too, we're also this betrom areas
right next to one of the public paths, so our audiences,
you're listening, and now you might hear a bus tour
go by. You might hear some of the crowd noises
going by, because everyone's here enjoying the zoo today.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
But we're here to talk about the copy Bura.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
We're super excited, by the way. Thank you for spending
the time and for our listeners too. When I walked
in here, you guys, I'm smiling like some Hey, a
lot of herbivor smells a lot of fun herbivor smells.
And I guess over here a little tapey or snap
poking out saying hi to So this is a really
unique area too, right, And I have to say, like,
when I think about wildlife, you know a lot of
people go to Africa in Asia, which is amazing, but honestly,
(03:02):
My go to is the kid has always been Central
South America. So I'm super stoked to talk about this
very unique, very large rodent. Right, can you describe this
animal for us?
Speaker 5 (03:10):
Yeah, Kappa bars are actually the world's largest rodent. They
can range anywhere from about one hundred and ten about
one hundred and seventy pounds on average, so very large rodent.
People describe them a lot of times as like a
giant guinea pig. They look to be like a size
of a large dog. They have really coarse brown hair,
(03:32):
can range from tan to like really dark brown hair.
And they have short little ears that they wiggle very
much like hippos. One of the cutest things. I love
watching that. And then yeah, the little short snowl little
webbed feet, So they're one of the I think, one
of the most adorable animals.
Speaker 4 (03:48):
Of course, I mean I agree, right, when we think
about rodents, right, it's worth mentioning for a listeners because
I'm sure they're thinking about it right now. All the
nuances of rodents on planet Earth, right, and the standard
kind of rodent we're all familiar with the house the rat.
We have Namibian pouch rats here as ambassadors are a
really unique species. But now I'm thinking about like the
porcupine as an example, Right, isn't that the largest in
North America? Because I want to stargest in North America
(04:10):
is the beaver?
Speaker 2 (04:11):
Oh right? Beever I forgot about the beaver.
Speaker 1 (04:13):
I forget about the beaver.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Right, that's what we're saying, right, So really unique, but
this one because it's aquatic too. The area.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
Can you, for a listeners talk about that environment that
these animals are in, right, kind of different than our beaver,
right or porcupine?
Speaker 5 (04:25):
Yeah, I mean in South America, they're going to find
more like swampy grasslandy areas. Sometimes it's savannah like, but
it always has to be near a body of water
of some right, because the body of water is going
to be very much part of their whole life. They
will swim in it to cool down, to find food,
a lot of grasses and aquatic plants as part of
(04:48):
their normal diet. They will also use it to as
basically a defense mechanism. That's the easiest way to get
away from predators, just to swim away. And so water
plays a really big role. So they want to find
a place that has a large enough body of water
to submerge and to get away, and to also just
live and eat and thrive in.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
It's a great environment. But I also love that you
mentioned it is an opportunity for them to escape from predation.
Being the largest road and on the planet. What usually
predates these.
Speaker 5 (05:18):
Animals, you know, as an adult, A lot of the
larger carnivores in the area, so puma's jaguar, sometimes anaconda
depending on how large the anaconda is will definitely prey
upon them, and actually humans as well. But for like
the small babies, any small predator a slats even heard
sometimes all possums, so we'll go after baby capavirus.
Speaker 2 (05:39):
I know that lot.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
So there's a lot in that jungle they have to
kind of contend with, you know. But it's probably worth
noting why they're so social as well. That probably helps
them out right looking out all those corners in the
jungle right very much.
Speaker 5 (05:49):
So, Yeah, social groups are very important. During let's say
the dry season around the water hole, they'll find sometimes
up to one hundred individuals in a group that are
sort of just milling about and interacting and socializing. During
the wetter season, maybe forty still a large group. But yeah, definitely,
social is a very big part of how they survive
(06:11):
as a group because we have usually males, dominant males,
subordinate males, and then a lot of females and a
lot of pups as well.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
So with mentioning dominant male is subordinate, et cetera, is
there a true social structure within these large groups or
is it more of a loose sort of family groups that.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Have come together.
Speaker 5 (06:30):
In the larger groups, it's sort of loose, but when
you get into an actual breeding group, you do usually
have a dominant male, one dominant male to a group
of the say four to fourteen females. Oh co. And
then sometimes there are subordinate males that're sort of on
the outlying of that breeding main breeding group. But yeah,
there is very strong dominant males that really defend that
(06:53):
space in those females and actually hold on to that status.
Is the dominant male for years and years and a
lot of times they're very rare for subordinate male to challenge.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
Really, woh, that's interesting. I'm really curious, and I know
we're here at Eliphant Odyssey. Can you talk a little
bit about the coffy boras of guests can encounter here
of course.
Speaker 5 (07:10):
Yeah, So we have a group of eight kapy baras
currently here in Alpha Dnssee, we have an adult male
and female. Bowie is the male and Rosalina is the female.
And then we have their pups. So they had a
little of pops born in July of last year. They're
about ten months old. We still have one female and
one male from that group. And then we have a
(07:32):
new group of pups that was just born in April.
We have three in that group right now and they're
all females.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
That's exciting really, all right, everyone loves a coffee bar.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
I mean before the interview the other day, I was
scrolling on my TikTok and you know, if it's not
a kitten, it's a coffee bar and something super cute.
There's something about them, the little faces, you know, it's
such a stoic face. One morning, I remember seeing an
adult half in out of the water and little bubbles
coming up behind him. I'm not saying what is happening,
but he had the most stoic face, right. But it's
that cuteness, right, But that's what I love about some
(08:04):
of these animals. I know there's something about a copy
brol just makes a kid smile I think at an
adult right.
Speaker 5 (08:09):
Oh, yeah, every day I come to work, I have
a smile on my face every time I get to
see them. They're different, they're doing something interesting and fun
and either they're swimming or they're interacting with each other socializing.
They're socializing with the tapers. I mean, every day is
so just great to be here, you know, I love it.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
That's awesome.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Well, going back to a little bit of what Marco
is saying and the bubbles coming up. Yes, there are
a lot of sounds.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
And noises and vocalizations that they do make.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
From what I understand, can you explain and share some
of those with us. You don't have to imitate them
if you but if you want.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
To go right ahead and try.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (08:43):
So, vocalization is a really strong way to communicate with
each other. So they have anywhere from like these high
pitched squeals and sweaks to sometimes really like guttural groans
and a growl sound, and so they all mean different things.
A lot of times when you hear like sort of
a chittering squeal, that's more of like sort of content sound.
(09:05):
Sometimes appeasement and then when you get to like a
bark or the growl, that's when you get into aggression
or sometimes even frightened sounds. You'll have a really loud,
sharp bark when they get startled or something frightens them.
Speaker 2 (09:21):
I didn't realize they're as vocal.
Speaker 3 (09:23):
I have worked a lot in my past with porcupines,
and I know there's a lot of different things they'll
do with their teeth as well to communicate.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Do copies do that also?
Speaker 3 (09:30):
For sure?
Speaker 5 (09:31):
The chitter, the chattering, and so they basically clack their
teeth together. That's really aggressive. So like when they are
maybe quarreling with another copy bar or sometimes their taper,
they will clack their teeth together and that's really like warning,
do not try to approach me or come at because
I will use these teeth basically, And like.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Other rodents, they have the ever growing incisors.
Speaker 3 (09:53):
Do you find as a WILDLFE care specialist, you're replacing
things that they're chewing up and.
Speaker 5 (09:57):
Chewing through or Yeah, so we always have to provide
something for them to chew on. So a lot of
times we want them to chew on the correct things,
so not try to like destroy some of the things
we have on habitat that they shouldn't chew on. So
we do provide them with thick logs or big branches
for them to chew on, kind of keep those teeth
worn down, because yeah, they do not have that. Then
(10:18):
the teeth can get overgrown and then it basically doesn't
allow them to eat and chew their food properly, and
so then you fall into issues with that, and so
you want to give them something to chew on that's
appropriate for them to keep their teeth worn make sense.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Totally, such a unique adaptations they have.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
But I'm curious, like, because you are the specialist, my friends,
So if you have like a bunch of kids in
front of your right now, what's your one like the
coolest copy borrow fact that you can think of, maybe
something that maybe people don't really know about these unique
little rodents.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
That's a good big road, big I know what I said,
like big roads.
Speaker 5 (10:54):
Let's see one of well, one of my favorite. I
don't know how well or unknown, but I do love
the fact that they can actually fully submerge and stay
underwater for five minutes.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Oh wow, five minutes, oh wow wow? And they're moving
about are they grazing in the water too, you think.
Speaker 5 (11:11):
Sometimes yeah, sometimes the low aquatic plants underwater, they will
go and dive for and actually graze upon them. But
it's also another way that if let's say they're being
chased by a predator, they jump in that water, submerge,
they can just swim for that five minutes and just
get away.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
There you go. Wow, I love it.
Speaker 4 (11:29):
I've also seen them as sort of these like unofficial
purchase for the local birds in the area as well
of a really unique animal. And great reminded to you
again of the diversity of rodents out there, right, I
guess said, don't get all squirmy on us when we're
talking about with the rodent family, because there's so many
unique species out.
Speaker 2 (11:42):
There, like the copy bar and the porcupine of course.
Speaker 1 (11:45):
Yeah, so thank you.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
This is really really cool.
Speaker 3 (11:47):
Yeah, and one thing I want to point you know,
you're mentioning some of these cool adaptations, you know, being
able to graze over the plant material. You live in
these large groups near the water, and they're hunted by
other animals. And that does bring me to the fact
that we just recently talked about some other species that
are danger We've talked a lot on this podcast about
conservation efforts and the work being done in collaboration. But
(12:08):
the coppy bear is not in danger. The copy bear
does not have a big program in place to save
them because they're doing okay.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
But I want to point out.
Speaker 3 (12:15):
To our audience that this is a great example though,
of the species that the more we get to understand
them and know them, the less chance we will have
to create some sort of conservation program. And they are
so important for a healthy ecosystem, which is also another
topic we cover quite a bit in this podcast, but
the importance of overall healthy ecosystem. So they're keeping the
plants at the proper length if you will, or growth patterns,
(12:38):
they're feeding other animals. They're also then fertilizing with their
droppings as they go throughout their environment, and obviously in
the wild too, the chewing behavior that we have here
in the zoo, they do that in the wild, so
they're helping to maintain plants at certain.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
Levels with the chewing that they do as well. So
it's kind of cool to think about.
Speaker 3 (12:54):
Although we're not leaning heavy into the conservation side, it's
also a really good reminder of how important every species
is to their environment.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
One hundred percent, right, even like elef and Odyssey is
such a unique area or highlighting species that were here
how many many moons ago in the past. But for me, honestly,
what I like about this particular area it shows different
species that thrive in these unique jungle environments in South America.
People I'm probably thinking right now at jaguar, maybe a
harbeat eagle.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
You mentioned the anaconda as well.
Speaker 4 (13:21):
It's a wicked right, but people forget all the other
nuances like the tape heer as well, Like these are
really large herbivores that are found in these vibrant, rich
jungles in South America.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
So you work at a pretty unique spot, my friend,
So I agree.
Speaker 5 (13:32):
I love it.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
M hmm. Well, on the heels of what Marco just
said too, I want to ask because we have listeners
of all ages, and a lot of our listeners are
wild left care specialists, you know, in the making their dreaming.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
They want what we do, So tell us a little bit.
Speaker 3 (13:45):
What is it like to be able to come in
every day and take care of these really cool rodents.
Speaker 5 (13:51):
I mean, I find it a joy every day. I'm
excited because these guys are one of the few animals
that we can actually interact with and sort of build
a good relationship with. They're super smart animals, being rodents,
they have a really good way of problem solving, and
we can use training a lot of times to sort
(14:13):
of stimulate that mental need of theirs to work through problems.
And so I get to actually interact with them by
changing them different behaviors, to show different parts of their
body to go into a crate if they need to
transport somewhere, or basically make their lives in my life
a little bit easier to care for. So I really
(14:35):
enjoy just going out on habitat and hand feeding them
or just sometimes conversing with them. Honestly, like I say,
they vocalize to us, especially the pups that were born here.
They know us wildlife care specialists really well, and we
can sort of vocalize back in our own way, and
we sort of have that nice bond with them.
Speaker 3 (14:57):
That's really special. And that's one thing I've often said
that's you know, the wildlife we care for ends up
being extended family percent. We are with them so often,
we care for them so much. It's not like having
a dog or cat at home. It's very different than that,
but there's still a connection there, and I really appreciate
you sharing that with us and with our audience. Yeah,
of course, Well, I really appreciate you sharing what it
means to you and the connection we all have with
(15:19):
the wildlife we care for.
Speaker 1 (15:20):
And also thank you so.
Speaker 3 (15:21):
Much for taking the time to talk with us in
our audience about copy bras today.
Speaker 5 (15:25):
Of course, anytime. I will talk about them forever if
you let me.
Speaker 4 (15:29):
All right, maybe there's a take two or episode to
you somewhere in the future, right, Thanks again, I really
appreciate it, of course. Oh Rick, thank you for getting
us behind the scenes there with Kimberly. I love being
back there with.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
The kapy barras and tape you're hanging out and eating.
Speaker 4 (15:44):
It was wicked, oh and Kimberly with all the capy
bar knowledge, I mean respect right.
Speaker 3 (15:50):
Right exactly, and I'm so glad it worked out spending
time with Kimberly and man, yes, so much information about
capy bras. I think though, I was most impressed with
their size. I mean, sure, they look like they might
be the size of like a big dog when you
look at them from a distance. When you're walking through
the zoo. But up to one hundred and seventy pounds,
that's a lot of rodent.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
Man, one hundred percent, a whole lot of rodent. And
you know, I gotta admit I was very.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
Impressed alone that they can hold their breath up to
five minutes. Oh and kids, please remember the average human
can usually hold their breath for only about one to
two minutes unless they've done some special training, right, friend, right,
So please please don't try to be like a copy
barra when it comes to holding your breaths.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
All the advice man, very good advice gaby Buras have
all kinds of cool adaptations from those parsley webed feet
to countless vocalizations for communicating and speaking of copyre communications
that reminds me. Coming up in July tenth is copy
bur Appreciation Day. You can keep an eye out for
the San Diego zoos social media for fun facts and
great photos of copy burs. And of course, because it's
(16:55):
copybar Appreciation Day, you have to share with everybody you
know all the great things you've learned about copy.
Speaker 4 (16:59):
Bur one hundred percent, and I mean the cuteness, I mean,
forget about it.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
All right, they are adorable.
Speaker 4 (17:06):
You cannot scroll through copy Bar Appreciation Day and not
fall in love with those adorable faces.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
I know, I know, I know.
Speaker 3 (17:14):
We try to make sure people always have an appreciation
and respect for all wildlife, which you can't deny the
cuteness factor when it comes to copy of era.
Speaker 1 (17:22):
Seriously, it's almost too much, right, it really isn't that?
Speaker 5 (17:24):
You know what?
Speaker 3 (17:24):
That actually kind of reminds me of another well known
bear that people can't help but fall in love with
their cuteness.
Speaker 2 (17:30):
Oh yeah, sir, I wonder what kind of bear you're
thinking about.
Speaker 3 (17:33):
Well, we do have giant pandas coming back to the
San Diego Zoo.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
Oh my guess is it really time? I mean, are
we finally going to do this thing?
Speaker 5 (17:42):
Yeah?
Speaker 1 (17:43):
I think Are you ready for this? I think it's time?
Speaker 2 (17:44):
All right?
Speaker 3 (17:45):
Be sure to subscribe and tune into our next episode,
in which we learn more about the giant pandas that
are coming to the San Diego Zoo and the continuation
of our giant panda conservation research.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
Marco Went and I'm Rick Schwartz. Thanks for listening.
Speaker 3 (18:06):
For more information about the San Diego Zoo and San
Diego Zoo Safari Park. Go to SDZWA dot org. Amazing
Wildlife is a production of iHeartRadio. Our supervising producers are
Nikkia Swinton and Dylan Fagan, and our sound designers are
Sierra Spreen and Matt Russell. For more shows from iHeartRadio,
check out the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you
(18:27):
listen to your favorite shows.
Hosts And Creators
Rick Schwartz
Marco Wendt
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