Nutria - The Aquatic Architect

Nutrias, also known as coypu, are semi-aquatic rodents native to South America but now found in various parts of the world. With their webbed hind feet and large, orange-tinted incisors, nutrias are perfectly adapted to life in and around water. In a zoo, they are provided with enclosures featuring ponds, aquatic plants, and plenty of space to burrow and swim.

Nutrias are herbivores, primarily feeding on aquatic vegetation, roots, and stems. In zoos, their diet includes fresh greens, vegetables, and hay. Watching nutrias chew with their powerful teeth or dive into the water to retrieve food showcases their aquatic adaptability.

Social by nature, nutrias live in groups and communicate through chirps, grunts, and tail movements. Their playful interactions in the water and meticulous grooming habits make them a joy to observe. Despite their relatively small size, nutrias play an important role in wetland ecosystems, and observing them in a zoo provides insight into the challenges they face in the wild, including habitat loss and overpopulation.