The search for two missing capybara was put on pause Tuesday night while park staff set up non-lethal traps to catch the animals and bring them back to their enclosure at the High Park Zoo.
Ben Lovatt, a volunteer, said that he spotted one of the animals twice, once near the east side of the pond “sitting right on the ledge.” But when city staff arrived, they were unable to capture the rodent because they didn’t have a watercraft, Lovatt said.
Since at least one of the capybaras has been spotted in the same area, park staff believe they know where it’s living.
They’ve set up non-lethal traps with scented food. They said they will give the animals space and discontinue the search for the night.
City councillor Sarah Doucette said the capybaras have “everything they want” in the 400 acres of High Park.
“If they were in distress or they were hungry, it would be a lot easier to catch them,” she said. “Right now they’re happy, they’re looking at us, saying, ‘Hey, we’re having a great time. Just leave us where we are.’”
