LARGEST RODENT IN THE WORLD AND THE TOP PREDATOR: "You mean, the chillest best pals ever?"

Danielle Margareth Piler

DID YOU KNOW?

“Unusual and unexpected friendships might turn out to be the greatest ones you'll ever have, you know?”

Isn't it interesting how the internet nowadays seems to be ruled by the most bizarre creatures? Several people, particularly on Tiktok, were captivated by videos of a capybara doing random things or simply standing and doing nothing. Yet it's a video of a capybara standing on the head of a crocodile that has people laughing. This footage has garnered over a million views, and many are still puzzled as to why crocodiles do not attack capybaras. But seriously, why, though?

The capybara has the body form of a pig, tiptoes around on webbed feet, and appears like an oversized guinea pig, which is why people find them cute and amusing. They are semi-aquatic mammals native to Northern and Central South America, with a minor invasive population in Florida. Capybaras are exceptional swimmers that appear to enjoy their time in the water as they are constantly seen living near bodies of water. Capybaras can even sleep in water to remain cool! They dive and stay below for up to 5 minutes at a time, and they frequently fall asleep in the water while keeping their nose close to the banks. 

The sociable capybara tends to dwell in huge herds and is regularly observed mingling with other animals. There are several photographs and videos on the internet depicting capybaras befriending all kinds of wildlife. Most importantly, capybaras are best pals with crocodiles! The truth about why crocodiles don’t attack them is that they are too huge for crocodiles to devour, so they frequently hang out in the water instead. Capybaras might be gregarious animals, but they are always relaxed and calm. They adore any creature that does not hurt them, and as a result, other animals (such as the crocodile) are drawn to their welcoming nature. They won’t mind what you do around them as long as it doesn't harm them. Capybaras have excellent senses as well. They can tell if a predator is hunting or not. And if they do, Capybaras just hide in murky water to avoid being devoured by huge apex predators.

Numerous capybara appreciation accounts are becoming increasingly popular on the internet as days go by. TikTok videos using the hashtag "capybara" have also gotten over 116 million views and are still gaining more engagements! More so, people will never get weary of being amused by how capybaras and crocodiles vibe with each other, despite their differences in the animal kingdom. 

Source/s:

Bradford, A. (2021, December 2). Facts about Capybaras. https://www.livescience.com/55223-capybara-facts.html

Crystal, AZ Animals (2023, January 3). World’s Chillest Capybara Hangs Out In An Ocean of Crocodiles, Unconcerned. https://a-z-animals.com/blog/worlds-chillest-capybara-hangs-out-in-an-ocean-of-crocodiles-unconcerned/

Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. (n.d.). 10 Facts about Capybars: The World’s Largest Rodent. https://currumbinsanctuary.com.au/stories/blogs/10-facts-about-capybaras-worlds-largest-rodents

Ewe, K. (2021, November 2). Why Is Everyone Suddenly Obsessed With This Giant Rodent? https://www.vice.com/en/article/93b5zd/photos-capybara-giant-rodent-cute-memes

National Geographic. (n.d.). Capybaras Facts. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/facts/cabybara-facts#:~:text=These%20impressive%20semi%2Daquatic%20mammals,beavers%2C%20capybaras%20are%20strong%20swimmers.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. (n.d.). Capybara | Description, Behavior, and Facts. https://www.britannica.com/animal/capybara-genus

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