Patagonian Mara at the Hagenbeck Zoo, Hamburg (Germany)

The Patagonian Mara (Dolichotis patagonum) is a relatively large rodent in the mara genus Dolichotis. It is also known as the Patagonian Cavy or Patagonian Hare. This herbivorous, somewhat rabbit-like animal is found in open and semiopen habitats in Argentina, including large parts of Patagonia. Patagonian Maras are long-legged rodents with bodies similar to hoofed animals. They have long ears and short tails. Their coats - which are stiff, dense and very fine in texture - are primarily gray-brown, with a white patch along the chest and stomach and orange colouration around the flanks and head. The species is monogamous with pairs staying together for life. The male follows the female wherever she goes, scent-marking her. The main reason for this behaviour is most likely the unusually short time frame for successful reproduction to take place, as the females are only fertile for 30 minutes every 3 to 4 months. Patagonian Maras can live for approximately 14 years in human care.

The Hagenbeck Zoo (Tierpark Hagenbeck) is a zoo in Stellingen, Hamburg, Germany. The collection began in 1863 with animals that belonged to Carl Hagenbeck Sr. (1810–1887), a fishmonger who became an amateur animal collector. The park itself was founded by Carl Hagenbeck Jr. (1844–1913) in 1907 and it is still operated and owned by the Hagenbeck family today. It is known for being the first zoo to use open enclosures surrounded by moats, rather than barred cages, to better approximate animals' natural environments. Over the years, the zoo has gained a good reputation for successfully breeding rare and endangered species such as the Asian Elephant and the Siberian Tiger.