Just as humans age and die, capybaras also go through this procedure. If you own them as a pet or wondering about their lifespan, I got the answer.
So, how long do capybaras live? Depending on their home and type, they can live with different life expectancies. Here’s the detail:
- Lifestyle –
- In captivity: Lasts for 10 to 14 years.
- In wildlife: Survive at least 6 to 10 years.
- Type –
- Greater capybara: 7 to 10 years of natural life.
- Lesser capybara: 4 to 8 years of longevity.
- Pet –
- Lives not more than 8 to 12 years.
Keep on reading to know their lifespan and related topics!
The Life Expectancy of Capybaras!
Creatures like the largest rodent (capybaras) last for a long or short time based on lifestyle and type. To make it clear, let me show you their average and range of lifespan.
Longevity In Captivity & Wild
If you ask zoo keepers, they will inform the diversity of capybara’s lifespan in wild and captive life. It happens as captive life is way more different than wildlife.
How Long Do Capybaras Live in Captivity?
They can have a lifespan of 10 – 14 years in captive life. One of the reasons why they live such a long life is due to available food.
In all zoo, zookeeper feeds them healthy foods and fruits. Plus, keep them hydrated through the water when the season changes.
On top of that, the capybaras get to live in groups with their friends to maintain a social life in captivity. During this time, they play, chase, and do random stuff to entertain themselves.
In most zoos or captive zones, you’ll see a pool in the house of capybaras that let them swim and enjoy the water when the weather is super hot.
Zookeepers tend to look after animals to ensure the creatures are healthy and not sick. They even give the creatures tablets (only if needed). That’s why they live longer in captivity than wildlife.
- Average lifespan: 10 – 12 years.
- Range of lifespan: 12 – 14 years.
How Long Do Capybaras Live in The Wild?
In the wild environment where foxes, pumas, jaguars, eagles, and wild dogs are living, the capybaras will last for 6 to 10 years (highest range).
It’s also possible that they live around 4 years if often meet predator creatures around their home. Another reason why they live such short life is due to a shortage of food (quite hard to find).
Plus, the capybaras can get aggressive and fight creatures that cause their lifespan to shorten if eaten by predators.
- Average lifespan: 6 – 8 years.
- Range of lifespan: 10 years (at max).
Natural Life Based on Types
You’ll find 2 kinds of capybara in recent times which are the greater capybara and the lesser capybara. Both have slight differences in lifespan just like their height x length x weight range. Let me explain this in detail.
Greater Capybara (H. Hydrochaeris)
The greater or larger capybaras last for around 7 to 10 years. By and large, they contain big ears and physical growth with tiny feet.
- Average lifespan: 7 years.
- Range of lifespan: 10 years.
Lesser Capybara (H. Isthmius)
With small ears, short physical growth, and little big feet, the lesser capybaras will survive for up to 4 to 8 years.
- Average lifespan: 4 years.
- Range of lifespan: 8 years.
How Long Do Capybaras Live as Pets?
As a pet, capybaras will last for up to 8 – 12 years just like in captive life. It’s hard to tell their specific lifespan.
Their life expectancy mostly depends on the environment, home size (length + width), pool, food, and so on factors.
Even after providing the basic needs, you might need to give special treatment to them in order to ensure they last longer.
How Old Is the Oldest Capybara in The World?
The oldest capybara in the world lasts for 15.1 years in a captive lifestyle. It’s a small rodent that contains the same physical traits as other capybaras.
Being the oldest capybara in history, this doesn’t have any special name. It just lasts longer than the usual range of capybara life expectancy.
According to one study, the oldest female capybara lives at 6 years of age. In the same study, the oldest male capybara lasted for 7 years of age.
Make Capybaras Live Longer
- Feed your capybaras with healthy foods that contain Vitamin C, protein, and low curbs.
- Avoid treating them with fried foods.
- Ensure the capybaras are living in warm weather.
- Keep the water tub clean and fill it with fresh water.
- Give capybaras birch and willow branches that help them to maintain their teeth health.
- Cuddle the capybaras as some of them enjoy a strong hug.
- Be sure the capybara is living in a group of 10 to 20. Just like humans, they also need a social life to play and have fun.
In Conclusion
So how long do capybaras live, I hope you have a rough answer. Also, it’s possible that they can live even longer since the lifespan given above is a general range.
Based on habitat, food availability, social life, and care, they will survive an extended or brief lifespan. Be sure to take care of them if you own one.
Hope this guide informs all the things that you were looking for.
