A capybara named Pasha has settled in the Kazan Zoo Garden.

      Herbivorous mammal will live in the "Hippopotamus" pavilion

      A new resident has appeared in the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden "Zambezi River" – a four-year-old male capybara named Pasha. The animal was brought from the Nizhny Novgorod Zoo "Limpopo." Currently, the resident of the "Hippopotamus" pavilion is undergoing a mandatory adaptation period.

      Photo provided by the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden

      The transportation from Nizhny Novgorod went smoothly under the supervision of Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden staff, who had previously visited the "Limpopo" zoo to get acquainted with the animal and prepare for its move. The journey from Nizhny Novgorod to Kazan took about six hours. Stops were planned along the way, and keepers constantly monitored the capybara's condition, offering it familiar food specially brought from Nizhny Novgorod, as well as ensuring constant access to fresh water. According to specialists, the animal coped well with the move and showed no signs of stress. For comfortable living, the capybara has been placed in the "Hippopotamus" pavilion. The choice of location is due to the species' characteristics: being a semi-aquatic animal, the capybara needs constant access to water. In the winter enclosure, a pool with a comfortable temperature has been specially equipped for the newcomer. The enclosure has been built according to international standards. The area of the covered part is 277 sq. m, of which 32 sq. m are occupied by indoor facilities. Adjacent to the building is a spacious outdoor enclosure of more than 1000 sq. m. The complex includes pools with waterfalls, a modern water filtration system, a shower, and a fully equipped veterinary block.

      In addition, the zoo staff installed a wooden deck and a shelter made of willow branches with a soft bedding of hay, where the animal can hide if necessary. The capybara's diet has been formed based on recommendations from the Moscow Zoo and the "Limpopo" zoo. The diet is balanced and includes vegetables, fruits, specialized feed, brooms, branches, and hay. Feeding takes place three times a day, the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden reported.

      Capybaras are social animals, and their proximity to other residents is beneficial for them. In the indoor enclosure, there are currently four Egyptian herons (one female and three males) living with the capybara, and fish inhabit the pool. The hippopotamus female Zakharya currently occupies the outdoor enclosure but will join them as the cold weather sets in. Specialists have no concerns: the 43-year-old female has peacefully shared space with animals of other species multiple times.

      In the near future, the capybara will be getting acquainted with the new conditions and staff (keepers). If necessary, specialists will conduct additional training sessions with the animal. The duration of adaptation depends on the character of the capybara itself, but visitors to the zoo can already see the animal. The male is already ready to start a family, so plans are in place to find him a mate.

      In total, during the first half of 2026, the Kazan Zoo has welcomed 51 offspring, including from Bruce's hyraxes, Nile lechwe antelopes, Chapman’s zebras, cat lemurs, falcons, Canadian geese, and ruddy shelducks.

      It is worth noting that in June of this year, the zoo's collection was replenished with two Asian elephants – Sakhar and Udacha. The animals were presented by the President of Laos to the President of Russia in honor of the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Also, in 2025, according to agreements between the governor of the Khabarovsk Territory and the President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, a pair of Amur tigers – Basura and Sayana – were brought to Kazan.

      During the first half of 2026, the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden was visited by 270,000 guests, with 31,000 using discounted tickets. Of these, 156,000 visitors were adults, and 114,000 were children.

      More news about the event:

      A new star of the Kazan Zoo: meet capybara Pasha!

      The collection of residents at the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden has been replenished. Now, a new charming resident – a four-year-old male capybara named Pasha – lives here. 14:14 04.08.2026 Leninogorsk News - Leninogorsk

      A capybara named Pasha from Nizhny Novgorod has settled in the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden

      A new resident has appeared in the "Zambezi River" zoo botanical garden – a four-year-old male capybara named Pasha, who arrived from the Nizhny Novgorod Zoo "Limpopo." 12:33 04.08.2026 Kazan News - Kazan

      A four-year-old capybara has been brought to the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden from Nizhny Novgorod

      A new resident has settled in the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden "Zambezi River" – a four-year-old male capybara named Pasha. 11:19 04.08.2026 GTRK Tatarstan - Kazan

      Capybara Pasha from "Limpopo" has appeared in the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden

      A new resident has appeared in the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden "Zambezi River" – a four-year-old male capybara named Pasha. 10:08 04.08.2026 IA Tatar-Inform - Kazan

      The most charming rodent has arrived in Kazan: capybara Pasha is looking for love

      A new resident has appeared in the Kazan zoo "Zambezi River" – a four-year-old male capybara named Pasha. 09:57 04.08.2026 TRK Tatarstan-New Century - Kazan

      A four-year-old capybara has appeared in the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden

      The collection of the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden has been replenished with a four-year-old male capybara named Pasha. 09:49 04.08.2026 Business Online - Kazan

      A capybara has appeared in the Kazan zoo! Its name is Pasha

      A capybara has appeared in the Kazan zoo. It is a male, four years old, named Pasha. 09:32 04.08.2026 E-kazan.Ru - Kazan

      Capybara Pasha has settled in the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden

      Herbivorous mammal will live in the "Hippopotamus" pavilion

      A new resident has appeared in the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden "Zambezi River" – a four-year-old male capybara named Pasha. 09:16 04.08.2026 Administration of Kazan - Kazan

      News from neighboring regions on the topic:

      Capybara Venya has arrived at the Orenburg Oceanarium

      Another resident has arrived at the Orenburg Oceanarium. This time, the capybara named Venya was greeted at the airport by specialists from the Rosselkhoznadzor Administration for the region. 16:04 04.08.2026 Yuzh-Ural.Ru - Orenburg

      A capybara has arrived in Orenburg: the animal was checked by Rosselkhoznadzor specialists

      An unusual new resident has arrived in Orenburg – a one-and-a-half-year-old male capybara. 15:17 04.08.2026 ProOren.Ru - Orenburg

      Moscow Zoo has opened recruitment for keepers to care for animals

      Photo: Elena Melnikova / AGN Moscow

      The Moscow Zoo has announced recruitment for staff to care for animals – keepers. 07:47 04.08.2026 Evening Moscow - Moscow

      The Moscow Zoo has opened a search for keepers

      The zoo emphasized that caring for animals involves hard physical labor in any weather and at any time of day. 00:42 04.08.2026 Molnet.Ru - Moscow

      An additional morning flight has been launched on the Nizhny Novgorod – Bor route

      A new flight will be operated on weekends. An additional morning flight has appeared on the river route Nizhny Novgorod – Bor on Saturdays and Sundays. 22:33 03.08.2026 Newsroom24.Ru - Nizhny Novgorod

      The capital zoo has opened recruitment for keepers to care for animals

      Photo: RIA Novosti/Vitaly Belousov

      The Moscow Zoo has opened recruitment for workers to care for animals – keepers. 21:55 03.08.2026 M24.Ru - Moscow

      An additional "Valday" flight has been launched on the Nizhny Novgorod – Bor route

      Photo: Kira Mishina

      An additional morning flight has appeared on the river route Nizhny Novgorod – Bor on Saturdays and Sundays. 19:08 03.08.2026 NIA Nizhny Novgorod - Nizhny Novgorod

      An art object dedicated to the 805th anniversary of Nizhny Novgorod has appeared in Theater Square

      Photo: Administration of Nizhny Novgorod

      A new installation has decorated Theater Square ahead of the anniversary of Nizhny Novgorod.