Capybaras (carpinchos) occupied an elite village in Argentina

(Wikimedia Commons)

Residents of the elite village of Nordelta in northeastern Argentina faced an unusual problem: capybaras appeared in large numbers a few weeks ago, devoured vegetation, left excrement everywhere, and even bite dogs.

The people living on the Nordelta are unhappy with the presence of capybaras, but it is forbidden to kill them.

According to ecologists, the rodents did not capture Nordelta, but returned to their home, since the village was built on the site of wetlands where these animals have long lived.

Wild animals often settle next to humans. For example, common foxes have settled in London, ad striped raccoons are common in North American cities.

According to zoologists, human settlements attract animals with an abundance of food and a low risk of falling prey to a predator.

However, some species are kept in cities and towns due to the fact that they are built right in their habitats.

This is exactly what happened to the capybaras, which lived in the wetlands of northeastern Argentina, south of the confluence of the Parana River into the Atlantic Ocean.

In 1999, despite protests from environmentalists, they began to build an elite village fenced off from the outside world for wealthy Argentines who wanted to live close to nature.

Today it is known as Nordelta. As of 2014, there were already twenty-five thousand people living here.

A few weeks ago, residents of Nordelta began to complain about the numerous capybaras that flooded the local streets.

Giant rodents eat lawns and garden plants, leave feces all over the place, and even bite dogs. Moreover, because of them, accidents occur on the roads.

Given that capybaras can weigh up to 66 kilograms and live in groups of ten to twenty individuals, it's no surprise that they are a lot of hassle.

Many residents are so annoyed with their new neighbors that they are ready to shoot them. However, local authorities prohibit harming or even touching capybaras.

And ecologists emphasize that since the giant rodents lived on the territory of Nordelta long before the appearance of the village, we can assume that they just returned home.

Enrique Viale, one of Argentina's most renowned conservationists, hopes the capybara invasion will draw attention to the destruction of the country's valuable wetlands.

These ecosystems suffer not only from the construction of elite villages, but also from the expansion of agricultural land intended for growing soybeans and grazing cattle.

As a result, many species are deprived of their habitats, and the soil absorbs less moisture, which increases the risk of floods and fires.

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