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The Patagonian Mara – a long-legged rodent that outwardly resembles hoofed animals – is now at the Baku Zoological Park.

Four Patagonian maras (Dolichotis patagonum) – two males and two females – have been brought to the Baku Zoological Park from the Belgian zoo “Tropic Zoo.”

The new residents were initially kept in the park’s quarantine zone under veterinary supervision, afterwards, they were transferred to a specially equipped enclosures that simulates their natural habitat, where they successfully completed the adaptation process.

The Patagonian mara is primarily found in Argentina, South America, particularly in the Patagonia region. The species' natural habitat includes semi-desert plains covered with shrub vegetation.

Morphologically, Patagonian maras differ from other rodents by having longer limbs and ears. They exhibit various forms of locomotion: in addition to walking, they can hop like hares and are capable of reaching high speeds. Their maximum speed is 55–60 km/h, which plays a crucial role in escaping natural predators.

The prominent position of the eyes and the wide field of vision allow the species to detect dangers in the environment in time and respond quickly. Moreover, high adaptability  of Patagonian mara ensures resistance to temperature fluctuations.

In terms of social behavior, maras have a monogamous structure – pairs stay together for life and live in social groups. In the wild, the Patagonian mara's lifespan ranges from 7 to 10 years, while in captivity it can reach up to 14 years.

It is worth noting that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the Patagonian mara as a species listed in the “Near Threatened” category.