In some countries (understand: especially the one where I currently live), capybaras are considered as some of the cutest animals on Earth.
Personally, while I don’t find them horrible, I have trouble forgetting that they are giant rodents (and as such, just one step away from giant rats, which would be my biggest fear – yes, I have a phobia of rats, a real one, i.e. an irrational and uncontrollable fear of rats).
However, once in a while, cuteness wins, like with this baby capybara:
4 thoughts on “Capybaras”
They’re in the same family as ragondins (coypus), a lake owner’s nightmare because of the burrowing damage they do to banks. At a distance they look slightly cute, but up close they’re just giant rats with orange teeth, and they’re bad tempered too. The rat family doesn’t have a lot going for it.
I have the same feeling about ragondins (but I don’t own a lake). I kinda like, but kinda not. My cousin had one as a pet for a while and it was very sweet and fun though.
And I disagree, they’re not rat, I’d be scared of them if they were.
Instead of rats, think of them as gigantic, adorable guinea pigs.
Yes, it’s true, they look more like guinea pigs, but I still can’t brush off completely the small rat vibe that they give out.