The capybara is seen at Fureai Zoo in Hiratsuka, Kanagawa Prefecture. (Photo courtesy of the Hiratsuka Municipal Government)

       HIRATSUKA, Kanagawa -- Preparations are underway for the public debut of a capybara that ran away from its owner and was on the loose for about six months before it was taken in by a municipal zoo in this eastern Japan city, the Hiratsuka Municipal Government has announced.

       The capybara had been kept by a woman living in the city of Fujisawa, but it escaped in June 2019 and wandered around the prefecture's Shonan area for about half a year. Its original name was "Choco," but when it was spotted in various places, children called it "Kappy" and it became a hot topic.

       At the end of 2019, the capybara was captured in the prefectural town of Oiso, but as it had grown more than 1 meter long, its original owner looked for a place that would take it in. Fureai Zoo in Hiratsuka municipal Sogo Park took possession of the animal in January 2020, but since it could not get used to people, it was not put on public display.

       The capybara has finally become accustomed to its keepers, so the city government decided to prepare a space for public viewing with a supplementary budget of about 5 million yen (about $43,400), part of a designated donation to the zoo.

       The timing of its debut will be decided based on how familiar it is with people. Construction work will finish by the end of this fiscal year, allowing for a public opening from spring 2022. The capybara's name will be chosen from submissions the zoo intends to call for after visitors have had a chance to see it.

       (Japanese original by Yuki Motohashi, Hiratsuka Local Bureau)

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