The Welsh Mountain Zoo near Colwyn Bay has announced the death of Mango, a young male capybara who had only been at the zoo since May 1. The zoo shared the news on Tuesday, July 7, stating that Mango passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, July 5.
Arrival and naming campaign
Mango arrived at the zoo on May 1, marking the first time the zoo housed a capybara. The zoo launched a fundraising campaign to name him, ultimately choosing the name Mango. Capybaras are highly social animals that typically live in herds of up to 20, and the zoo had planned to introduce a companion for Mango in the future.
Zoo's statement on the loss
In a statement online, the zoo said: "It is with immense sadness that we share the loss of Mango, our capybara, who unexpectedly passed away on Sunday, 5 July. Although Mango had only recently joined us, he had already become a much-loved member of the Welsh Mountain Zoo family. Our dedicated keepers, who cared for him every day, are heartbroken by his loss, as are all of us at the zoo."
The statement continued: "We know so many of you had been following Mango's journey, from the opening of his new habitat to helping choose his name. Your excitement and support meant so much, and we are deeply sorry to be sharing such sad news."
Investigation into cause of death
Zookeepers are working to determine the cause of death. The zoo noted: "We are now working hard to find out why Mango died. Please bear with us during this difficult time. At this stage, we are awaiting further veterinary findings to better understand the cause of death."
As a result, the capybara habitat at the venue will remain temporarily closed until further notice.
