Colombia’s Plan to Hunt Capybaras Sparks Outrage and Environmental Debate

Colombia is facing growing controversy after officials signaled Support for allowing commercial hunting of capybaras, the world’s largest rodent and often called the “friendliest animal on the planet.”

According to El País, scientists argue that limited hunting could be sustainable, while Animal rights activists warn it is cruel, unnecessary, and distracts from the real threat — the destruction of the capybara’s natural environment.

Biologists note that capybaras reproduce quickly and populations in parts of Argentina and Brazil are considered pests.

They claim that controlled hunting of 5–10% of the population would not endanger the species and could even provide economic benefits for local communities.

Researchers say their studies comply with the Convention on Biological Diversity, which Colombia signed in 1992.

But activists like Green Party senator Andrea Padilla strongly oppose the plan. She stresses that hunting is not the problem — habitat loss is. The flooded savannas of the Orinoquía region, where capybaras thrive, are being drained and transformed into vast rice, soy, palm, and sugarcane plantations.

Deforestation, pesticides, and water diversion are destroying the floodplains, leaving capybaras and countless other animals increasingly vulnerable. “Recovering and protecting their habitat should be the priority,” Padilla insists, pointing out that Colombia has already struggled to enforce environmental laws.

Rice production has surged across the Eastern Plains, now providing more than half of Colombia’s grain. Critics say the industry is damaging rivers, forests, and wetlands on the edge of the Amazon, undermining resilience to droughts and floods fueled by Climate change. While rice growers highlight sustainability improvements, watchdogs warn that unchecked agricultural expansion is pushing the ecosystem — and its wildlife — to the brink.

The debate over capybaras is ultimately bigger than hunting. It raises urgent questions about land use, food security, and what future Colombians want for their natural heritage. Instead of treating capybaras as commodities, activists argue, Colombia should prioritize habitat protection and sustainable farming that supports both people and wildlife.

Protecting the “friendliest animal on the planet” means safeguarding the ecosystems they depend on — and choosing compassion over exploitation.

This article by Nicholas Vincent was first published by One Green Planet on 5 September 2025. Lead Image Credit: Galyna Andrushko/Shutterstock.