The newly born Capybara at the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland has a brand-new name, thanks to the public!
The Edinburgh Zoo confirmed on its website and on Instagram that the baby’s new name is Bru and revealed it was selected through a social media vote.
“Edinburgh Zoo’s adorable baby capybara has been named Bru after a public vote on social media,” they announced. “The name was chosen from four distinctly Scottish options provided by the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), the wildlife conservation charity that runs Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park.”
The zoo also noted that baby Bru went viral online for his ” undeniable Scottish charm” and “captured the imagination of social media users around the world who have fallen for their clumsy antics.”
Baby Bru was born back on May 8, and the Zoo took to TikTok to make the adorable announcement. The zoo confirmed that Bru’s mom, Luna, “has given birth to a beautiful babybara and we are so excited!”
People in the comments shared their excitement over the news and even shared name suggestions. The overwhelmingly popular name users recommended before the “babybara” was officially named was “David Attenbara,” in honor of “national treasure David Attenborough.”
Attenborough was also born on May 8 and celebrated his 100th birthday this year.
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Fun facts about Baby Capybaras
According to AZ Animals, Capybaras are considered the world’s largest rodents and typically live in South America, in forests and grasslands close to water sources.
A Capybara mom’s gestational period will typically last between four and five months, and she will typically give birth to three to four pups per litter. Unlike baby humans or other animals, Capybaras are born with their “cheek teeth,” so they can eat solid foods. But like other rodents, their teeth never stop growing, and so they grind [their teeth] against each other and against the hard and fibrous food the capybara eats, wearing down as they grow.”
When Capybaras are born, they typically weigh between two and three pounds and grow exponentially from there. In fact, “By the time capybaras reach about 18 months, they average as much as 88 pounds. That increase equals roughly 35 times the initial weight of the pup.”
Baby Capybaras are also known to be extremely vocal and “make various noises, from chirps, squeaks, and whistles to grunts, barks, and purrs.” These vocalizations are an essential part of “communicating with one another and with the rest of the family group.”
Related: Capybara’s Daily Visit to Her Border Collie Bestie Is Melting Hearts
This story was originally published by PetHelpful on Jun 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the Pet News section. Add PetHelpful as a Preferred Source by clicking here.