Capybara known for ‘endearing quirks’ and love of peanuts dies at Maryland zoo

A capybara known for her love of corn and peanuts has died, Maryland zoo officials said.

Faith, who came to the Salisbury Zoo from the Brevard Zoo in Florida at 6 months old, was “cherished” by zookeepers and constantly “bringing joy” to staff with her “gentle nature” and “endearing quirks,” according to an April 1 news release by zoo officials.

The staff noticed Faith’s health decline, and after an examination, learned she had internal tumors and hemoabdomen, a condition in which blood begins to fill the abdominal area, officials said.

Due to the severity of her condition, zoo officials believed the best course of action was to euthanize Faith, the release said.

Capybaras are known as the world’s largest rodent, usually found in South America and closely related to domestic guinea pigs, officials said.

They are semi-aquatic and have slightly webbed feet, with the ability to hold their breath for up to five minutes, the zoo said.

In the wild, they tend to live to about 7 years old, but when living under human care, their lifespan can reach between 10 years and 12 years, officials said.

Faith loved her own space but took a liking to her habitat mates, Charlie and Tracy, and indulged in the simple pleasures like pumpkins, soaking in the sun and swimming on warmer days, officials said.

Salisbury is about a 120-mile drive southeast of Baltimore.

This story was originally published April 2, 2025 at 11:59 AM with the headline "Capybara known for ‘endearing quirks’ and love of peanuts dies at Maryland zoo."