Emily Wilson, FOUR PAWS UK Head of Campaigns says:  

“As the global animal welfare organisation committed to protecting wild animals and promoting the responsible treatment of all species in human care, FOUR PAWS strongly opposes the keeping of wild or non-domesticated animals, such as capybaras, in settings where their complex welfare needs cannot be properly met.  

Capybaras are semi-aquatic, highly social animals that require constant access to water, space to graze, and the ability to express natural behaviours in calm and enriched environments. Forcing them into a busy café, surrounded by noise, unfamiliar people, and constant human interaction, is fundamentally incompatible with their physical and psychological well-being.  

We call on the Breckland Council Licensing Team to take a firm stand against this inappropriate and exploitative model and instead demonstrate leadership by putting animal welfare first. We must prevent a dangerous precedent from being set that could see other wild animals used in similar ventures. A café environment cannot offer the conditions necessary for capybaras to thrive, and allowing such a venue to operate would send a deeply concerning message that commercial novelty can override animal welfare.”