Five baby capybara pups born at zoo

By Ed Chatterton

Five adorable capybara pups have been born at a U.K. zoo — that will grow into the world's largest rodents.

First-time mom Maple welcomed five tiny new arrivals with dad Mani at Hertfordshire Zoo on July 13.

Keepers originally thought Maple had finished giving birth after welcoming three pups and were stunned when two more popped out.

Maple is said to be taking motherhood "completely in her stride" and is proving a "fantastic first-time mom."

Cute photos and video footage have captured the newborns taking their first springy steps around their enclosure and playing with each other.

As with all capybaras, the youngsters, which weighed 4 pounds (2 kg), were up on their feet within minutes and have been exploring their habitat ever since.

At just over a week old, keepers say they're already growing in confidence and starting to sample solid food alongside feeding from mom.

Tyler Whitnall, managing director of Hertfordshire Zoo, said, "Watching Maple give birth was an incredible experience for the whole team.

"We were lucky enough to observe everything from a distance, and it was amazing to see how instinctive motherhood came to her.

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"As a first-time mom, she was completely self-reliant and knew exactly what to do from the moment the first pup arrived.

"Then, just when we thought she'd finished after three babies, she surprised us with another two.

"With the capybara pups arriving less than two weeks after our baby tapir, this part of the zoo really has become a maternity ward.

"It's a wonderful time for the team, and we're making sure all of our moms have everything they need while they raise their young.

"Seeing both species doing so well is incredibly rewarding."

Native to South America, capybaras hold the title of the largest rodent species on Earth.

Known for their gentle temperaments, the semiaquatic mammals spend much of their time in and around rivers, wetlands and lakes.

Equipped with webbed feet for expert swimming, capybaras can even stay underwater for several minutes at a time to hide from danger or cool off in the heat.

Capybaras are highly social herd animals that thrive in groups, communicating through a soft series of barks, whistles and purrs.

They eat a plant-based diet consisting mainly of freshwater grasses and aquatic flora.