Thanks to YouTube, people are beginning to discover the wonders of the world’s largest rodent, the capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), a denizen of South America. Their average weight is about 50 kg, or 110 pounds, but they can be twice that heavy. They are cute, cuddly, and very chill. Here’s a group of them at the Nagasaki Biopark chowing down on an enormous pumpkin.
The YouTube notes are these:
We gave capybara a huge pumpkin. We didn’t weigh but it may be around 50kg? Do capybara like it?
They do!!
🐾🐾
Very cute – thanks!
Capybaras are awesome.
so cute. I was expecting them to drop it or crack it open to help them get started
Good eat’en. I have a pizza coming.
Interesting the first part of the video is labelled “ASMR” – whoever posted the video must have thought the sound track would appeal to paresthesia enthusiasts.
If you notice, a number of ASMR suggestions pop up at top right, such as “Hippo devour watermelon in one bite,” and “Tortoise eat watermelon.”
The very thought of ASMR produces a visceral sensation of revulsion, quite the opposite of what ASMR is said to produce. However, wonder why I’d definitely prefer listening to a passel of cpaybaras munching on pumpkin to humans making identical smacking sounds, which I’d find kill-worthy annoying.
Human ASMR is definitely cringey, but I have to admit, there’s something gratifying about watching hippos crunch melons. I suppose that feeling of gratification is supposed to be what ASMR induces.
Now, if they had been the size of a rat and with long tails, would we have been so enthralled?
Male capybara can be aggressive. Just big guinea pigs. 🙂
Unlike cats and dogs – carnivores, they don’t seem to compete for food. Is that a trait among herbivores?
They do. You’ll see some are waiting for the food. The more dominant buggers will eat their fill and chase the others. Guinea pigs are the same.
If they’re waiting, how are they competing?
Because they don’t dare fight the dominant one. If they do, they get bitten. If you have two dominant ones you get nasty fights. It’s exactly the same with wolves or dogs though we breed dogs to be more agreeable but some need a separate eating spot if they are food dominant. Male capys can be very aggressive in particular.
Polite as expected.
Capybaras for the US Senate!