SALISBURY, Md. - The Salisbury Zoo announced Tuesday the death of Faith, a beloved capybara at the Zoo.
Faith, 10, experienced a rapid health decline, according to Zoo officials. Health Clinic staff determined she had internal tumors and a hemoabdomen and she was euthanized.
The Zoo says Faith arrived there as a six-month-old from the Brevard Zoo in Florida. A spokesperson says Faith preferred her own space when it came to other capybaras, but found companionship in her habitat mates, Charlie and Tracy, Greater Rheas. A Zoo spokesperson says Faith was a fan of pumpkin, corn and peanuts, and enjoyed wading in the water on warm days.
“Please keep the Salisbury Zoo staff in your thoughts as we grieve this tremendous loss,” said Chuck Eicholz, Zoo Director.
The Salisbury Zoo has had a long history of housing capybaras, since 1971. Faith most recently lived alongside another capybara named Pecan.
Capybaras are the world's largest rodent, native to South America, and closely related to domestic guinea pigs.