VIDEO: NJ Zoo Welcomes Baby Capybaras, World's Largest Rodent

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, NJ — Few things warm the heart on a chilly day like baby animals, and the Cape May County Zoo is showing off its newest additions — a pair of Capybara pups.

"Our breeding pair 'Mikey' and 'Budette' just had their second litter of Capybara pups since June," zoo officials announced Tuesday.

The babies were born Feb. 3 and Budette and the babies are remaining inside until the weather warms up, the zoo said. The pups are currently about 4 pounds and are expected to weigh about 100 pounds when they reach adulthood.

The capybara is the world’s largest living rodent, growing to between 3.3 to 4.3 feet in body length and can weigh from 60 to 175 pounds. They mainly eat grasses, including aquatic vegetation, grains, melons, and squashes.

Capybaras are proficient swimmers and are known to swim underwater for considerable distances, zoo officials said.

They are closely related to guinea pigs and rock cavies, and more distantly related to chinchillas, a National Geographic article said. They primarily inhabit northern and central South America.

Capybaras are proficient swimmers. Their bodies are "adapted for life in bodies of water found in forests, seasonally flooded savannas, and wetlands," the National Geographic report said. "Their toes are partially webbed for paddling around, and their reddish to dark brown fur is long and brittle—perfect for drying out quickly on land. Small eyes, noses, and hairless ears are located high on their heads so that their faces remain exposed and alert when most of their body is submerged."

Capybaras live in large groups of extended family members, with groups varying from two to 30 members with one dominant breeding male. Gestation lasts up to 120 days with an average of three pups; there can be up to seven born in a litter, zoo officials said.

"We have seen record crowds over the past year and are proud of the reputation our Zoo has earned," said Commissioner E. Marie Hayes, liaison to the Parks and Zoo. "We encourage visitors to come to the Zoo year-round, there is always something new and exciting happening, and the birth of new babies is always a big attraction."

The gender of the pups is not yet known because they are staying very close to the mother, said Dr. Alex Ernst, the zoo's associate veterinarian.

While people won't be able to see them in person for the time being, "we will do our best to share photos of these new additions with everyone," Ernst said, adding photos will be posted regularly on the zoo's Facebook page.

The Cape May County Zoo is open year-round and while you may not see these new Capybara babies right now, you can see almost all of our other animals who are viewable every day weather permitting. The Cape May County Park is open daily from 7 am until dusk; the Zoo is open daily from 10 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. For more information about the Parks and Zoo visit www.cmczoo.com.

Sign up for Patch alerts and daily newsletters here, or download our app to have breaking news alerts sent right to your phone. Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com