Yesterday evening, one of the two missing High Park capybaras was successfully caught.
Toronto Wildlife Centre workers joined Team Capybara, a mix of City staff and local residents, to set a larger trap in the bushes this time, taking care to hide its wire floor.
“The size and type of trap, as well as how and when it is set, makes all the difference,” says the TWC’s rescue leader Andrew Wight in a press release. “It was also really helpful that City staff and some residents kept people away from the area during the trapping.”
Within minutes, the capybara was caught – lured by delicious corn, one of its favourite foods.
Capybaras are not one of the 270 species the non-profit Wildlife Centre normally works with and this is the organization’s busiest time of year, says Nathalie Karvoven, executive director of the Centre. But last week, she raised the issue with Wight, who was quite confident he could catch the critter. They reached out to City Hall to offer their help.
As for the second capybara, there have been sightings, but the TWC says they’ve been on private property and it’s more likely to be a successful catch if people stay away.
The two went missing from the High Park Zoo on May 24.
Have you spotted a capybara – or two – running around Toronto lately?
Find out more about the Toronto Wildlife Centre here. Don’t miss: Toronto’s best animal escapes
kater@nowtoronto.com | @katernow
