San Francisco Zoo Added Two Capybaras to Exhibit
The young sibling pair arrived from Sacramento and will be ready for public viewing on October 13, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Wildlife
Visitors to the San Francisco Zoo can soon see a new pair of capybaras that arrived at the facility this week. The male and female siblings, both four months old, were relocated from the Sacramento Zoo.
Why it matters
This addition to the Puente al Sur exhibit highlights the zoo's ongoing efforts to diversify its animal collection. The pair is currently settling into their new habitat and will begin interacting with a Baird's tapir soon.
The zoo acquired two capybaras currently at one-quarter of their eventual adult weight. While their official names are not yet known, the sibling pair arrived from the Sacramento Zoo to join the current exhibit.
The players
San Francisco Zoo
The city's primary zoological facility located near the Pacific coast.
Sacramento Zoo
The institution from which the capybaras were transferred.
The details
The four-month-old pair arrived at the San Francisco Zoo on October 8, 2026. They are currently undergoing a mandatory period of private acclimation within the Puente al Sur exhibit. Zookeepers plan to eventually introduce the siblings to the resident Baird's tapir before they make their public debut.
Timeline
October 8, 2026: The capybaras arrived at the San Francisco Zoo.
October 13, 2026: The public viewing of the capybaras is scheduled to begin.
Across the Bay
This acquisition updates the resident population at the zoo's Puente al Sur exhibit. It follows a pattern of inter-facility transfers between California zoos designed to maintain genetic diversity in their animal populations.
If you are planning a trip to the zoo, you can see the new capybaras starting October 13, 2026. They will be housed in the Puente al Sur exhibit.
The takeaway
The pair of capybaras serves as a reminder to check for updates on the zoo's animal roster before your next visit. Keep an eye on the official exhibit schedule to see if the siblings have been successfully introduced to the Baird's tapir.
Further reading
Learn more about local animal conservation efforts on the San Francisco Wildlife page.
