Article & Photos Mikaila Prince
I’ve always found myself drawn towards the company of animals. Indeed, their furry, scaly or feathery embrace is oft preferred over that of my human counterparts – so as you can imagine, I was head over heels when I made friends with a special inhabitant of South America, and more specifically, the Rupununi – the capybara.
I spent a few days, back in February, entangled with a small herd of capybaras at the stunning Wichabai Ranch in the South Rupununi. The ranch’s owners are piloting a project where they’ve erected an eight-hectare fence around a pond where the capybaras can lounge. The goal of the project? To source capybaras from surrounding villages to support breeding.
Already, the project boasts eight capybaras, with more on the way.
During the trip, I foud myself particularly fond of the capybara I’ve deemed the star of the herd, Hydra. The largest in the group, Hydra, weighed about 65 pounds; stats show that they can grow to roughly 143 pounds. She was certainly very social, given that she performed an act I found equally amusing and unsettling; when I reached out to pet her, she extended her head to suckle on my thumb. I imagine she found the sensation comforting, I suppose in the same way cats find sucking or kneading on fabrics relaxing.
I instantly observed how smart of an animal she was too; when a group of us took a trip to the pond about 500 meters from the ranch, she confidently led the way. And when we arrived and I gave her my index finger to suck, she showed her disapproval, wanting only my thumb. This got me thinking: are capybaras usually this intelligent? The simple answer – yes. Research shows that if schools existed in the animal kingdom, capybaras would undoubtedly secure a spot on the honour roll. Capybaras can recall names, express emotions, detect harmful food, and even strategise in the face of danger. They not only have these remarkable cognitive abilities but also display playful behaviours or show signs of threat when necessary.
Capybaras are also excellent swimmers, National Geographic says in its Capybara: Facts. Their pig-shaped bodies are perfectly adapted for wet habitats. They have partially webbed toes for paddling, and their reddish to dark brown fur is long and brittle, allowing it to dry quickly on land. Their small eyes, noses, and hairless ears are positioned high on their heads, keeping their faces exposed and alert while the rest of their bodies are submerged.
Carrying the title of the world’s largest rodent, National Geographic also reports that like other rodents, capybaras have teeth that grow continuously, which they wear down by grazing on aquatic plants and other abundant vegetation. Interestingly, capybaras also consume their own faeces in the morning, when it is protein-rich due to the high number of microbes digesting the previous day’s meals. Since the grasses they eat are difficult to digest, eating their waste allows them to digest it a second time, maximising nutrient absorption. Thankfully, this isn’t something I witnessed practised by Hydra or her counterparts.
With all that I have learnt about these magnificent creatures, I have considered adopting one, or two, or a few. Sadly at this point, given my seemingly unending list of commitments, it wouldn’t prove to be a feasible decision. In the meantime, though, I will settle for spending my holidays with Hydra and her gang at the Wichabai Ranch watering hole.