Close encounters of the capybara kind: African Safari Wildlife Park debuts its newest addition
Two-month-old Arepa and Torta are currently on exhibit at Port Clinton's African Safari Wildlife Park, with interactive "Capybara Encounters" beginning soon. Two-month-old capybara siblings, Arepa and Torta, have been introduced to Port Clinton's African Safari Wildlife Park in Ohio as part of an interactive Capybara Encounter experience. The interactive nature of the animals is due to social media and their popularity playing a role in their addition. The project was self-funded by the wildlife park and a labor of love, with the only outside help being an excavator for the over-6-foot-deep pool. Once the Capybar Encounter opens to the public, guests will be able to spend 10 minutes with Arepa or Torta during the experience. Tickets will be an add-on to regular park admission at $15 per person and open to guests 3 years of age and older.
公開済み : 10ヶ月前 沿って Diane Woodring (WTOL) の Science
Two-month-old Arepa and Torta are currently on exhibit at Port Clinton's African Safari Wildlife Park, with interactive "Capybara Encounters" beginning soon.
The stars of the show are two-month-old Arepa and Torta, siblings from the same litter that arrived in Ohio just over a week ago from another wildlife park in central Florida.
"One keeper said to me, 'I'll never leave if you get me capybaras,'" Keller said.
The capybara craze is due in part to social media and the animal's popularity played a role in their addition to the wildlife park.
The capybara is native to South America and closely related to the common guinea pig. However, while Arepa and Torta may look small now, they will eventually weigh up to 150 pounds.
The capybara habitat at African Safari Wildlife Park is about 1,500 square feet with a pool and waterfall, as the animal is a semi-aquatic species with webbed feet and skilled at swimming.
The project was self-funded by the wildlife park and a labor of love, with the only outside help coming in the form of an excavator for the over-6-foot-deep pool.
Arepa and Torta are currently on exhibit for guests to check out, but the full Capybara Encounter experience is still to come.
"They did encounters with their mom and dad before they left their previous facility, but it’s a lot of change coming to a whole new place, whole new environment and whole new keepers," Keller said. "So we’re trying to let them get their feet wet - literally and figuratively - and enjoy the transition and the beautiful Ohio summer weather."
Once the African Safari Wildlife Park's Capybara Encounter opens to the public, guests will be able to spend 10 minutes with Arepa and Torta during the experience. Tickets will be an add-on to regular park admission at $15 per person and open to guests 3 years of age and older.
Keller expects it to be two to three weeks before the encounters are up and fully running with the animals participating completely. Updates will be posted on African Safari Wildlife Park's website and social media.
トピック: Wildlife