Over a year ago, the first capybaras to be rescued in Costa Rica came to our sanctuary. They received a nationwide outpouring of love, and everyone wanted to know how they were doing and if they would survive.
These five capybaras suffered a great ordeal. They were discovered being illegally trafficked and kept in poor conditions. They were brought to our clinic by Costa Rican authorities.
One capybara, unfortunately, perished due to their injuries.
The other four were treated, quarantined, and kept in a secure, calm location so they could recover. Because they are non-native to Costa Rica, they could not be released into the wild. We then built an enclosure for them to live in, complete with a pond of water they could play in.
Now, visitors can see the capybaras that stole the hearts of Costa Ricans nationwide! We also hosted a naming contest, where the names with the most votes and donations to our clinic were chosen.
The four capybara names are:
Patacón: The male capybara is named after a patacón, the golden snack made of smashed, fried plantains. We think they are very similar in color!
Jacky: A woman named Paula suggested her late mother’s name: Jacky. Paula said her mother loved capybaras, but passed on before she could visit the ones in our sanctuary. This name received many votes and support from people who knew Jacky and were touched by her story.
Yára: The person who proposed this name said it means “Life” in the Maleku language. The Maleku are an indigenous people who presently reside north of La Fortuna.
Tamarindo: While there is only one male capybara, the name Tamarindo was also very popular…so we decided to name a female capybara after this famous beach! The name “Tamarindo” comes from the Tamarind tree, which grows abundantly in Guanacaste.
While the capybaras are nearly full-grown and are doing well in their new enclosure, there are still many animals in our clinic that need your help.
Take a peek at some of our current projects, and be part of an animal’s healing journey!
