Our Commitment & The Facts

A Mission Bigger Than One Location

Capybara Cafe grew from the mission of Noah's Ark Sanctuary. The cafe model helps support the sanctuary and the animals in its care while giving guests an opportunity to learn about wildlife, responsible animal care and conservation.

Fort Lauderdale is an opportunity to build on that mission and become a meaningful part of the community around us. We want to develop lasting relationships with the City of Fort Lauderdale, the Thrive Arts District, neighboring businesses, local families, schools and community organizations.

We also believe growth should create opportunities to help beyond our own organization. South Florida is home to rescues, wildlife rehabilitators and animal-focused nonprofits doing important work, often with limited resources. As we establish ourselves here, we hope to support worthwhile local efforts, help bring attention to their work and contribute where we can make a responsible difference.

For us, success is not simply about growing the organization. It is about increasing what we are able to contribute to the animals and communities we serve.

Licensing, Permits & Regulatory Oversight

Questions about our Fort Lauderdale location have included licenses, permits, inspections and local requirements. These are not interchangeable terms, and no single agency oversees every aspect of the operation.

Animal exhibition and wildlife possession, municipal land use, building requirements, and fire and life safety are governed through separate regulatory processes. Which authority is responsible depends on the issue being considered.

A question involving one requirement or department should therefore be evaluated within that specific area of oversight rather than treated as a conclusion about the status of the entire operation.

We work with the governmental authorities that have jurisdiction over our Fort Lauderdale location. When an agency requests information, raises a question or identifies an item requiring attention, we respond through the appropriate regulatory process.

Part of Responsible Oversight

Inspections are an expected part of regulatory oversight, and we take them seriously.

Each inspection has a defined scope and reflects what the responsible authority observed at that time. If an item requires attention, our job is to understand the requirement, address it and complete any necessary follow-up.

When corrective action is warranted, we take it. We also look for opportunities to improve beyond minimum requirements. For that reason, an inspection is best understood together with its scope, the agency that conducted it and any action that followed.

Animal Health & Veterinary Care

Public claims have also been made about the health of animals associated with our Fort Lauderdale location. Animal health is central to our responsibility, so we take those concerns seriously.

Based on the ongoing care and observation of these animals, our team has not observed the signs or symptoms that have been publicly attributed to them.

Photos, videos and brief observations can raise questions, but they are not a substitute for a veterinary assessment. Reaching a medical conclusion may require a physical examination, diagnostic testing and the professional judgment of a qualified veterinarian.

We have requested veterinary review of the specific health claims that have been raised. When that review is complete and there is information appropriate to share, we will update this page with the relevant veterinary context.

We Understand Advocacy

We understand that people hold strong and sincere views about animals in human care. Individuals and organizations have every right to advocate for those beliefs, ask questions, peacefully protest and disagree with us.

We do not expect everyone to share our perspective. We do expect ourselves to listen to legitimate concerns, work with qualified professionals and the authorities responsible for oversight, and make improvements when they are warranted.

We also believe public discussion is most useful when the distinction between an allegation, an observation, a regulatory finding and a veterinary diagnosis is respected. The responsible authority, the scope of its review and what happened afterward all matter when evaluating a claim.

Our approach is to respond with facts where we can, acknowledge what still requires professional review, and keep our focus on the work we are responsible for doing.

Where Our Attention Belongs

We have heard the criticism, and we understand that questions may continue. We will address legitimate concerns, but we will not allow the public debate to become the purpose of our organization.

Our attention remains with the animals entrusted to our care, the employees and educators who support them, the guests who visit us and the mission of Noah's Ark Sanctuary.

In Fort Lauderdale, that also means building constructive relationships with the City, our neighbors in the Thrive Arts District and the broader community. We want to expand educational programming, support worthwhile animal-focused organizations in South Florida, bring visitors into the district and continue improving the experience and care we provide.

Over time, we believe the most meaningful measure of our organization will be how we operate, how we care for our animals, how we respond when concerns are raised and what we contribute to the community.

That is where our focus will remain.

This page is specifically limited to the mission and operation of Capybara Cafe Fort Lauderdale at 744 NW 5th Avenue, Unit 1111, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It is not intended to address matters involving other individuals, locations or circumstances unrelated to the operation of this location.

Last updated: October 2026