Capybara Craving Attention
Walking in Akasaka, central Tokyo the other day I had a chance to get to know a small family of capybara, those lovable, South American giant guinea pigs. One man tried to take their photo with his cell phone but daddy Capybara felt left out and wasn’t going to let the photographer alone! I think the capybara, as an animal, just climbed up to a new top ten position in my list of favorite animals! And, I didn’t notice it until I was preparing this post, but do you see the cell phone strap and stickers the man has on his phone!? He must have been a huge capybara fan who just happened to pass by. What a lucky coincidence for him! If I had noticed when I took this photo I would have loved to hear his story.
Tokyobling's Blog 
My 2nd daughter has two guinea pigs (remaining ones out of the family of 9.) They indeed look similar to Capybaras.
LikeLike
The regular guinea pigs I have met are not nearly as cuddly as these giant versions. (^-^)
LikeLike
I love this little guy 😀
LikeLike
You should have seen his girlfriend! (^-^)
LikeLike
AHHHHHHHHHH! They are indeed just gigantic guinea pigs! This is exactly what my sister’s gps did anyway. I want to see a Capybara so badly; I’m sure it’ll feel so surreal to see a giant version of an animal I’m so familiar with.
I wonder if they eat these in Peru too? O_O
LikeLike
I am sure they eat these as well. They are very popular in Japan right now and some zoos are even setting up petting areas for them. Very placid animals! (^-^)
LikeLike
I can`t look at these without thinking an anaconda is around the corner.
Just HOW do you find all this stuff? You are ubiquitous. Teach me!
LikeLike
This coming from the Queen of the Jungle? Haha… (^-^) As usual, the trick is to keep walking around, and knowing where the event hot spots are, of course.
LikeLike
I love capybaras, too cute! 🙂
LikeLike
Aren’t they? I wouldn’t mind having a family of these as pets!
LikeLike
That’s really cute and fun. He has a lot of personality, really playful. What a great moment to catch on film, or memory card. 🙂
LikeLike
Memory card I’m afraid… (^-^;) Yes, capybara are very laid back animal, they enjoy soaking in baths and eating… just like some bloggers I know! (^-^)
LikeLike
Oh there’s nothing wrong with living a capybara lifestyle. Hmm…you should coin that phrase.
LikeLike
“Living a capybara lifestyle” – a great idea. I think I have to ask Ricky Martin to make it into a pop song!
LikeLike
Haha, I can see the music video already. Is it weird that I can envision dancing capybaras in my head so easily? Oh goodness, and now they won’t leave.
LikeLike
I am that sister owning guinea pigs that was spoken of in some of these comments. I am just crazy about guinea pigs!– they are just way too cute and one of my favorite animals! So capybaras-huge huggable versions of guinea pigs is like a dream come true to me- if only I had the chance to see one and pet one in real life!! I love the picture of the big cutie!! If they are having capybara petting zoos in japan, I am definitely going to a zoo the next time I go there!
LikeLike
Hi Karen and welcome to the blog! Thank you for the kind comment! I was wondering why you weren’t here! (^-^) Capybara are everywhere in Japan, almost every zoo has them now. You really must bring your family over for a visit soon!
LikeLike
So cute! I want to kiss him!
LikeLike
I almost did! (^-^;)
LikeLike
Hey, thanks for the welcome! Wow, you wondered why I wasn’t here, meaning you already knew about me? I feel honored. I have seen the cute capybara at some of the zoos I went to, but I haven’t yet experienced one that had them in the petting zoos!!
LikeLike
Haha… I’m waiting for your grandmother to show up as well! (^-^;) Anyway, I am very proud to have you here!
LikeLike
Well, you may have to wait quite a bit longer on my grandma! She doesn’t have a computer and will probably never get one! Thanks for the warm welcome 🙂
LikeLike
Haha… yes. Also grandma is “Living it real” here in Japan as far as I know! (^-^) No need to look at blogs!
LikeLike
well, that’s kind of true…. but she rarely goes anywhere but to town for grocery shopping, church, or to the doctor…she doesn’t get to see all this amazing stuff you post here, except for on TV of course!
LikeLike
She’s probably seen it all and much more interesting stuff than me anyway! She lived through some very interesting times. (^-^;)
LikeLike
Capirava está cheio aqui no Brasil! Um dia voltando de viagem vi em outra cidade nas margens de um lago!
LikeLike
Você tem sorte! Será que você tirar uma fotografia?
LikeLike
Então, eu estava dirigindo o carro (e só de passagem) portanto vi elas só de longe. A cidade de São Paulo onde eu moro/vivo não vemos Capivaras porque é muito urbanizada como Nova York (não tem muita vegetação), e quando aparece uma aqui na cidade ela acaba virando até notícia na TV local. Essas Capivaras que eu vi estavam em uma cidade no interior (Bragança) quando eu voltava de uma viagem. Se achou interessante, procure no Youtube “Capiravas em Bragança Paulista”. Pode ver que até filmam de perto. O nome da cidade é Bragança Paulista e fica a uns 90Km da capital São Paulo. Na entrada principal dessa cidade tem um lago enorme! Mas parece que é recomendado só olhar e ficar longe delas, porque essas de Bragança tem carrapatos (inseto parasita) na Wikipedia está publicado como “Tick”! Por causa disso, a prefeitura retirou elas desse lago e levaram para uma fazenda (ou “tentaram” levar elas porque eu ainda vi algumas nessa viagem). Elas são mais conhecidas por viverem no “Pantanal” que é formado por muitos e muitos rios e lagos, ambiente preferido das Capivaras (“Pantanal”= very large ultra big swamp fica no estado de Mato Grosso), Pantanal deve ficar a uns 1000km de São Paulo… e existem viagens para o “Pantanal” nas agências de turismo. Li que no Brasil até criam Capivaras para comer a carne (assim evitam a caça ilegal), mas eu mesmo nunca vi ou provei… ^_^
LikeLike
Essa é uma história muito interessante! Parece um lugar muito interessante para se viver. Interessante e perigoso! Mesmo eu amo capivara, algum dia eu quero tentar carne de capivara. (^-^;)
LikeLike
I loved your post. I am also a huge fan of capybaras. I spent 3 days with Garibaldi ROUS and completely fell in love.
Which is the best zoo in Japan for petting Capybaras. I grew up in Japan and want to visit some friends and see some capybaras as well. Japanese zoos are the best in the world for Capybaras.
Do you have any capybara videos on Youtube?
LikeLike
Thank you Liz! I love capybaras too! I haven’t taken any capybara videos, but the best zoo that I remember is probably the one in Izu. The two capybara in this post are probably from some zoo in Nasu, Tochigi, but I couldn’t find it on the web. Strange. However, Nakagawa Aquarium in Tochigi has a capybara event coming up, Capybara Valentine! http://www.aqua.pref.tochigi.jp/topics/detail.php?id=647
The only capybara petting zoo that I could find only allows children up to junior high school level to pet their animals, and on special events only. Maybe there are other zoos that I don’t know about that allows this? The capybara I petted in this post seemed very tolerant and wasn’t shy at all, so I don’t see why it should be a problem to have more capybara petting zoos?
LikeLike
Thanks very much. Amongst capybara lovers Japanese zoos have such a good reputation for allowing people to pet the capys; have you seen all the videos on Youtube?
I meant to say I love your choice of words “craving attention”; so completely captures the mood.
If you have nothing better to do, I will post a couple of links to videos we made of Garibaldi ROUS and me (there is nothing more rewarding than having a capybara sitting on your lap looking very, very happy!):
Thanks again for the post
LikeLike
Thank you Liz! You should consider getting a few capybara of your own, if that is legally possible in your country. I wish I could keep them as pets too!
LikeLike