Capybara found safe after brief escape from Las Vegas aquarium (2024)

Home
>>Local
>>Local Las Vegas

Local Las Vegas

Capybara is safe after escaping aquarium in Las Vegas (Janna Karel Las Vegas Review-Journal)

ByMax Michor/Las Vegas Review-Journal

October 23, 2018 - 1:17 pm

A capybara is safe and sound after it briefly escaped from its home at SeaQuest Interactive Aquarium.

Clark County Animal Control got a call about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday from SeaQuest at the Boulevard Mall, 3528 S. Maryland Parkway, to report that one of their four capybaras had escaped while being transported to the veterinarian, county spokesman Dan Kulin said.

Kulin said the capybara was recaptured shortly afterward in a Target parking lot at 4001 S. Maryland Parkway, about two blocks south of the mall.

The county tweeted out a video of the animal being coaxed out from beneath a parked car. The Twitter post said the capybara was captured in the Boulevard Mall parking lot, but Kulin said that location was incorrect.

Capybaras are the largest rodents on the planet and are native to South America. According to the San Diego Zoo, the semiaquatic capybara stands about 2 feet tall at the shoulder and is built “somewhat like a barrel with legs.” It has long shaggy hair, a face like a beaver, no tail and slightly webbed feet.

Interesting moment in Las #Vegas for #ClarkCounty Animal Control. A capybara (largest rodent in the world) got loose while being transported to a veterinarian. Here is video of it being captured in the Boulevard Mall parking lot. The animal is owned by the SeaQuest Aquarium. pic.twitter.com/7UEE8W6LlV
— Clark County Nevada (@ClarkCountyNV) October 23, 2018

SeaQuest came under fire last year after former employees alleged that hundreds of animals at the aquarium died from neglect. The aquarium opened in December 2016.

Contact Max Michor at mmichor@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0365. Follow @MaxMichor on Twitter.

'; html += '

'; html += 'ELECTION 2022'; html += 'Read more'; html += '

'; html += '

'; html += ''; html += '

'; html += '

'; html += 'ELECTION RESULTS'; html += 'Click here'; html += '

'; html += '

'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('election-2022').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-harry-reid-1939-2021')) { html = ''; html += '

'; html += '

'; html += ''; html += 'Harry Reid(1939-2021)'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'Senate leader and Nevada political titan'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += '

'; html += '

'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('harry-reid').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-henry-ruggs')) { html = ''; html += '

'; html += '

'; html += ''; html += 'HENRY RUGGSDEADLY CRASH'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'CLICK FOR MORE'; html += ''; html += '

'; html += '

'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('henry-ruggs').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('category-homicides')) { html = ''; html += '

'; html += '

'; html += ''; html += 'HOMICIDE'; html += 'A STORY BEHIND EVERY NAME'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'TRACKER'; html += 'CLICK HERE FOR MORE'; html += ''; html += '

'; html += '

'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('homicides').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-sheldon-adelson')) { html = ''; html += '

'; html += '

'; html += ''; html += 'Sheldon Adelson(1933-2021)'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'Las Vegas visionary and Philanthropist.'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += '

'; html += '

'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('sheldon-adelson').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-tony-hsieh')) { html = ''; html += '

'; html += '

'; html += ''; html += 'Tony Hsieh(1973-2020)'; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += ''; html += 'Ex-Zappos and Downtown Project CEO left a lasting impression on Las Vegas.'; html += 'Read more'; html += ''; html += '

'; html += '

'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('tony-hsieh').html(html); return; } if ($('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-vegas-weekend')) { //vegas-reawakening html = ''; html += '

'; html += '

'; html += 'VEGAS REAWAKENING'; html += 'A year after the pandemic began, the first weekend of spring showed a perfect storm of promise for Las Vegas’ recovery and brought optimism that visitors would indeed return to the city'; html += 'Read more'; html += '

'; html += '

'; $('.nlsm-small').addClass('vegas-reawakening').html(html); return; } //add newsletters embed var default_category_to_show = ['News', 'Local', 'Life', 'Crime']; var newsletter_1st_lv = []; newsletter_1st_lv['default'] = {'id':'starting_point,pm_update', 'track_name':'StartingPoint', 'title':'LOCAL NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free daily Morning and Afternoon Update newsletters.'}; newsletter_1st_lv['Sports'] = {'id':'sports', 'track_name':'Sports', 'title':'SPORTS NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free daily Sports Update newsletter.'}; newsletter_1st_lv['Business'] = {'id':'business', 'track_name':'Business', 'title':'BUSINESS NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free Business Update newsletter.'}; newsletter_1st_lv['Entertainment'] = {'id':'','alert_id':'entertainment', 'track_name':'Entertainment', 'title':'WANT THE LATEST ON LAS VEGAS ENTERTAINMENT?', 'subtitle':'Sign up for free entertainment email alerts'}; //newsletter_1st_lv['Nevada Preps'] = {'id':'nevada_preps', 'title':'HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Stay up to date with our free Nevada Preps newsletter.'}; //newsletter_1st_lv['Investigations'] = {'id':'rj_investigates', 'title':'INVESTIGATIVE NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free RJ Investigates newsletter.'}; var cat_has_subcat = ['News','Business','Entertainment','Sports', 'Opinion']; var newsletter_2nd_lv = []; newsletter_2nd_lv['Politics and Government'] = {'id':'','alert_id':'political', 'track_name':'Political', 'title':'LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL POLITICS COVERAGE', 'subtitle':'

'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['Politics and Government'] = {'id':'political', 'title':'ELECTION 2020: BE INFORMED', 'subtitle':'

FULL COVERAGE | ELECTION RESULTS

'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['Debra J. Saunders'] = {'id':'44', 'title':'YOUR WEEKLY POLITICAL FIX', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free DC-LV newsletter with political stories from the swamp to the Strip.'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['CES 2021'] = {'id':'ces', 'title':'CES 2021: STAY IN THE KNOW', 'subtitle':'

The Review-Journal is a media partner with the CTA. Click here for full coverage and live video from CES 2021

Sign up for our free newsletter below.'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['TV'] = {'id':'tv_briefing', 'title':'GET YOUR TV LISTINGS', 'subtitle':'Your Weekly TV Briefing.'}; //newsletter_2nd_lv['UNLV'] = {'id':'unlv_rebel_news', 'title':'UNLV SPORTS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Stay up to date on the Rebels with our free newsletter.'}; newsletter_2nd_lv['Rodeo'] = {'id':'rodeo_nfr', 'track_name':'RodeoNFR', 'title':'RODEO NEWS YOUR WAY', 'subtitle':'Don\'t miss any of the action! Click here for full NFR coverage or Sign up for our free newsletter below'}; newsletter_2nd_lv['Raiders News'] = {'id':'vegasnation', 'track_name':'VegasNation', 'title':'WANT EVEN MORE RAIDERS NEWS?', 'subtitle':'Sign up for our free Vegas Nation newsletter.'}; newsletter_2nd_lv['Golden Knights'] = {'id':'','alert_id':'golden_knights', 'track_name':'GoldenKnights', 'title':'WANT MORE KNIGHTS IN YOUR DAY?', 'subtitle':'Sign up for free Golden Knights email alerts for all the latest updates'}; var main_cat = ''; var m_hierarchy = []; var m_cat = []; var m_hl_cat = ''; if (window.dataLayer[0].metrics) { main_cat = window.dataLayer[0].metrics.section; //National Finals Rodeo m_hierarchy = window.dataLayer[0].metrics.hierarchy.split(' | '); //"Sports | Rodeo | National Finals Rodeo" m_cat = window.dataLayer[0].metrics.categories; //["National Finals Rodeo","Rodeo","Sports"] m_hl_cat = window.dataLayer[0].metrics['hl-category']; //Sports } var i, k, found, newsletter; newsletter = false; found = false; if (default_category_to_show.includes(m_hl_cat)) { newsletter = newsletter_1st_lv['default']; } if (newsletter_1st_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_hl_cat)) { newsletter = newsletter_1st_lv[m_hl_cat]; } // check main category if (newsletter_2nd_lv.hasOwnProperty(main_cat)) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_2nd_lv[main_cat]; } if (!found) { // check in hierarchy (main category hierarchy) i = m_hierarchy.length; while (!found && i >= 0) { i--; if (i > 0) { if (newsletter_2nd_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_hierarchy[i])) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_2nd_lv[m_hierarchy[i]]; } } else { // i=0, check first level if (newsletter_1st_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_hierarchy[i])) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_1st_lv[m_hierarchy[i]]; } } } } if (!found) { // check in category i = m_cat.length; while (!found && i > 0 && cat_has_subcat.includes(m_hl_cat)) { i--; if (newsletter_2nd_lv.hasOwnProperty(m_cat[i])) { found = true; newsletter = newsletter_2nd_lv[m_cat[i]]; } } } if (newsletter !== false && !$('.rj-story-full').hasClass('tag-hide-newsletter') && !$('.rj-story-full').hasClass(' rj-story-sponsored-full')) { var alert_id = ''; if (newsletter.alert_id) { alert_id = newsletter.alert_id; } html = ''; html += '

'; html += '

'+newsletter.title+'

'; html += '

'+newsletter.subtitle+'

'; html += '

'; html += '' html += '

'; html += '

'; html += 'By signing up you agree to our Privacy Policy and '; html += 'Terms of Service. Unsubscribe at any time.'; html += '

'; html += '

'; html += 'This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.'; html += '

'; html += '

'; $('.nlsm-small').html(html); } //});})(jQuery);

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook.

THE LATEST

ByJohn Katsilometes/RJ

March 22, 2024 - 11:39 pm

“Good evening, Las Vegas! Did you lose your money? Did you looose your money?” Bruce Springsteen shouted Friday night at the top of his long-awaited show at T-Mobile Arena.

Allegiant Stadium set quarterly attendance record while surpassing 4M total visitors

ByMick Akers/RJ

March 22, 2024 - 6:32 pm

Allegiant Stadium has seen over 4 million fans attend events at the $2 billion, nearly four-year-old facility, according to Las Vegas Stadium Authority data.

Henderson assistant principal arrested in Texas for alleged sex crimes

ByRicardo Torres-Cortez/RJ

March 22, 2024 - 4:09 pm

A former Henderson middle school assistant principal was arrested on allegations that he tried to lure a minor into sex, CCSD police announced.

Henderson, North Las Vegas ask judge to restore power to nonvoting CCSD board members

ByKatelyn Newberg/RJ

March 22, 2024 - 1:50 pm

The school board changed its policies in January, preventing nonvoting members appointed by local governments from being able to make motions during meetings.

Bicyclist injured in central Las Vegas Valley crash

ByTony Garcia/RJ

March 22, 2024 - 12:25 pm

A bicyclist suffered injuries that were described as critical after a crash with a vehicle Friday morning in the central Las Vegas Valley.

2 downtown Las Vegas restaurants suffer bewildering break-ins

ByJohnathan L. Wright/RJ

March 22, 2024 - 12:11 pm

One break-in netted only $10. The other attacked a place that employs people with disabilities.

1 dead in northeast Las Vegas Valley wreck caused by DUI driver

ByDavid Wilson/RJ

March 22, 2024 - 5:53 pm

The crash occurred around 3:10 a.m. at Las Vegas Boulevard North and Walnut Road.

What is that weird, metal building in downtown Las Vegas?

ByTaylor Lane/RJ

March 22, 2024 - 6:30 am

If you’ve ever wondered what that building is in downtown Las Vegas that looks like a twisted roll of film, look no more.

What will make more Nevadans buy EVs?

BySean Hemmersmeier/RJ

March 22, 2024 - 6:01 am

Shailen Bhatt, administrator of the Federal Highway Administration, says there are many barriers to entry, but there are ways to fix that.

6 places Las Vegas locals miss visiting around the valley

ByTaylor Lane/RJ

March 22, 2024 - 8:18 pm

Las Vegas has a reputation for being quick to demolish, rebuild and rebrand anything and everything — often breaking nostalgic locals’ hearts in the process.