Four newborn capybaras joined their parents to explore the pool of their enclosure at a zoo in Thailand.

Footage shows the one-week-old tiny rodents following the adults around Nakhon Ratchasima Zoo on May 22.

The capybaras were born healthy on May 16, but the zookeepers could not yet determine their genders as they were still clingy with their mother.

Zoo director Thanachon Khensing said the family was introduced to the exhibition zone so visitors could watch the babies play with each other.

He said: ‘The zoo plans to hold activities where visitors could interact with them more closely.'

The zoo's mammal section officer, Piya Singnuan, said one of the female capybaras was also pregnant and was expected to give birth by mid-June.

He said: ‘That was great news for the zoo. We are trying to increase the population of capybaras and invite visitors to come and visit.'

The capybara is a giant cavy rodent native to South America. It is the largest living rodent, with reddish-brown fur on the upper part of its body that turns yellowish-brown underneath.

Capybaras have slightly webbed feet and a vestigial tail. They typically give birth to 2-8 offspring at once.

However, their population has greatly decreased due to being hunted by humans.