Colombia has clarified that it does not authorize commercial hunting of the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris). Following days of controversy, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development stated that no resolution to legalize commercial hunting of this animal is currently under consideration.
Minister Lena Estrada emphatically stated that the government “will not authorize commercial capybara hunting,” denying any potential opening for the exploitation of this widely distributed wild species in the Orinoquia region.
Colombia does not authorize commercial capybara hunting
The controversy began in mid-June when a statement on the Ministry’s official portal mentioned that the process to establish a global quota for commercial hunting of the chigüiro (capybara) had legal backing. Environmentalists and animal rights advocates interpreted this as an attempt to permit commercial exploitation.
One of the first to speak out was animal rights Senator Andrea Padilla, who publicly denounced the Ministry’s potential endorsement.
“We were the first to warn about the risk of the Ministry of Environment, under Minister Lena Estrada, enabling commercial hunting of chigüiros. Likewise, today we applaud the decision not to proceed,” the congresswoman stated.
Padilla also led a signature campaign on Change.org under the hashtag #NoALaCazaDeChiguiros, which gathered over 14,000 public endorsements in less than a month. “Thanks to the media that amplified our concerns and the officials who heeded this urgent call,” she wrote on her X account.
Fuimos los primeros en denunciar el riesgo de que el @MinAmbienteCo en cabeza de la ministra @LenAmazonas habilitara la caza comercial de chigüiros. Así mismo, hoy aplaudimos la decisión de la ministra de NO seguir adelante.
¡La petición #NoALaCazaDeChiguiros, que lanzamos el 17… https://t.co/NF53Cd2so1 pic.twitter.com/P1bAMU0RbP
— Andrea Padilla Villarraga🐆 (@andreanimalidad) July 15, 2025
In response, the Ministry clarified that the initial statement referenced a 2001 Council of State order urging the design of a sustainable management model for the chigüiro due to challenges in breeding it in captivity.
However, after a technical meeting on June 12 involving experts and scientists, officials concluded that commercial hunting is not viable.
“There is also no food emergency in the region justifying the slaughter of these animals for human consumption,” the Ministry emphasized in its official statement.
Minister Estrada further called on local authorities, especially in Bogotá and the Llanos Orientales (Eastern Plains), to strengthen controls on the illegal trade of chigüiro meat—a practice fueling wildlife trafficking and environmental crime.
The Colombian government concludes capybara hunting is not a viable option
After analyzing these inputs and considering the government’s Development Plan approach, the Ministry of Environment affirmed that commercial hunting is unviable. Thus, any discussion about the species must prioritize its conservation and protection.
In this context, Minister Estrada urged Bogotá’s mayoral office and Eastern Plains municipalities to enhance enforcement against illicit chigüiro meat trade, which drives illegal trafficking and environmental crime.
The Minister also reiterated that there is no interest in favoring private entities or promoting actions compromising the chigüiro’s protection.
Finally, the Ministry invited stakeholders to “maintain an informed debate grounded in scientific evidence and dialogue across all sectors,” reaffirming its commitment to biodiversity protection, animal welfare, and transparency in policy-making.
The capybara: Endangered guardian of savannas
The capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), the world’s largest rodent, is an emblematic species of Colombia’s flooded savannas, particularly in the Eastern Plains.
Its presence is vital to ecosystem health: by grazing on grasses and aquatic vegetation, capybaras regulate plant growth and maintain open waterways, supporting birds, fish, and amphibians. Their burrows and trails also provide shelter and corridors for other wildlife, making them essential landscape engineers.
Nevertheless, the species faces critical threats. Poaching for meat and hides has intensified, often without regulation. Illegal trafficking to other regions and abroad, coupled with rapid habitat loss from agricultural expansion, further endangers local populations. Though not globally classified as endangered, its survival in Colombia is at serious risk.
Environmental experts and organizations demand stricter protections and community-based conservation programs, arguing that saving the capybara is key to preserving the ecological wealth of Colombia’s savannas.