The highly-anticipated Capybara Cafe is finally opening in St. Augustine, making it one of only a small handful of locations in the world which provides the public an opportunity to interact with capybaras. Native to South America, capybaras have taken the internet by storm in recent years due to their cuteness and loving nature.
The cafe is an operation of the nonprofit Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary, which aims to house and rehabilitate exotic animals and use them to educate the public about them. Proceeds from the Capybara Cafe will go toward the mission of Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary.
Origins of the Capybara Cafe
The animal roster at the Capybara Cafe is headlined by Mocha and Latte, the two capybaras who spend much of their day at the cafe before being taken back to a larger habitat nearby. Also available for interaction will be a skunk named Flower, a coatimundi named Bella, as well as opossums, snakes, guinea pigs, and a tortoise. Guests at the cafe will be able to book a capybara encounter giving them 30 minutes to interact with Mocha and Latte, or an enhanced experience which includes some of the other animals.
Stephanie, manager at the Capybara Cafe, pets Mocha and Latte. ⓒ Eryn Harris
Stephanie, one of Noah’s Ark’s directors who manages the Cafe, sees it as an innovative new way to meet the challenge of raising funds during a hard economic time for many. “We needed a way to come up with funds in order to continue taking care of the animals at the sanctuary,” she said. “We came up with a concept of which type of animal is a good animal ambassador that’s friendly, non-aggressive, and that most people can interact with.”
The reception since the Capybara Cafe was announced has been massive – bookings are already being filled well into January, meaning those who want an up-close look at the star animals would likely want to book their experience sooner rather than later. Around January 7th is when the next bookings are currently available according to the cafe. When guests arrive for their experience, they check in and get their food and drink and have the chance to browse the cafe’s merchandise selection. Then they get to enter the experience room and meet the animals.
Keeping the Capys Happy
The capybaras are more than happy to approach humans for a daytime snack. ⓒ Eryn Harris
Though the walls of the cafe aren’t quite what the capybaras are used to, steps are taken to ensure all animals are happy and healthy in accordance with their individual needs. “Our capybaras go home every day,” Stephanie continued, “where they have a 1,200 square-foot enclosure with a pond, a couple dens, logs, enrichment, and treats.” There’s a staff veterinarian through Noah’s Ark who’s ready to assist with any issues and collaborate for the health of the animal ambassadors. The cafe also received licenses through the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission to host their animal-centric experiences. The Sanctuary seeks to at least double the minimum wellness requirements set forth by these agencies.
Though the influx of bookings is likely driven by the popularity of capybaras, the effect is much more profound. “I wasn’t anticipating [the reception] being so welcoming and so exciting for people,” Stephanie said. “That’s great for the Sanctuary, we’re already making plans to build bigger enclosures, better water features, get better fencing and security…the community has come together and they’ve actually helped us be able to do that where we couldn’t do it before.”
The grand opening for the Capybara Cafe is on Saturday. Bookings and more information about the experiences and Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary is available at the cafe’s website.
