A video showing a capybara comfortably drinking water among hundreds of alligators has captured the attention of many. Strangely, amidst these notorious predators, the capybara appears completely unafraid.
The capybara leisurely drinks water among hundreds of alligators. (Video source: Youtube Rafkong)
The capybara, also known as the chigüire, is a member of the rodent family, being one of the two extant species, the other being the lesser capybara (Hydrochoerus isthmius). Capybaras are the largest rodents in the world. They are native to South America, inhabiting grasslands and dense forests near water sources. Capybaras are highly social animals, often forming groups of up to 100 individuals, though they typically live in smaller groups of 10-20.
Capybaras are semi-aquatic animals, primarily feeding on vegetation, mainly grasses and aquatic plants such as bark and fruit. When fully grown, they stand about 60 cm tall, reach lengths of 1.2 m, and weigh an average of 45 kg. Their maximum weight can reach up to 105.4 kg, and they can stand up to 1.5 m tall at adulthood. The lifespan of a capybara can be up to 8-10 years.
Capybaras are semi-aquatic animals, primarily feeding on vegetation. (Photo: AZ Animals)
Capybaras consume their feces as a source of gut flora to aid in the digestion of cellulose in their grass-based diet, maximizing protein and vitamin extraction from their food. They can also regurgitate food to chew it again, similar to ruminants.
Capybaras live in groups consisting of two to four adult males, four to seven adult females, and the rest being juveniles. Groups can contain up to 50 or 100 individuals during the dry season when animals gather around available water sources. Males establish social relationships, dominance, or consensus within the group. They can produce vocalizations similar to dogs when threatened or when females are nursing young.
Capybaras are very friendly with other animals. (Photo: AZ Animals)
During hot days, they tend to stay in the water and feed on grass in the late afternoon and evening. They also spend time wallowing in mud. They rest around midnight and continue grazing before dawn. This large animal is very gentle and is often kept as a pet in South American countries.
Notably, these rodents show no fear when playing alongside predators. They can comfortably play with fierce animals like alligators, dogs, cats, monkeys, and more.
Capybaras show no fear in the presence of hundreds of alligators. (Photo: AZ Animals)
This is evident in the above video, where a capybara strolls and drinks water in front of hundreds of alligators. According to zoologists, the calm demeanor of capybaras can be attributed to their unique characteristics, including:
With their huge legs, capybaras can run very fast, reaching speeds of up to 9.8 m/s, equivalent to the speed of a soccer player. Thus, when they sense danger, capybaras will utilize this ability to escape.
Capybaras can run fast and swim exceptionally well, helping them evade predators. (Photo: AZ Animals)
They are also excellent swimmers and can submerge completely underwater for up to 5 minutes, a skill they use to evade enemies. Capybaras can sleep in the water, keeping only their noses above the surface. Their swimming prowess has helped them escape from predators such as alligators, wild cats, eagles, and anacondas on numerous occasions.
Additionally, capybaras are known as the “peace ambassadors” of the animal kingdom. They possess a very friendly and sociable nature, never initiating attacks, and can coexist harmoniously with any species. They can befriend most other animals due to their disposition. Animals also enjoy being around them. Therefore, it is not surprising to see a capybara befriending a “bloodthirsty predator” like an alligator.
