We need a capybara for president
February 6, 2017 3:53 PM   Subscribe

Mashable explains What is a Capybara and Why is it So Chill?. Here's a capybara playing with puppies. Here's Cheesecake the capybara fostering puppies. Here's a capybara playing with a couple of collies. (Capybaras previously). [Mashable and Cheesecake have narration and music; other two are ambient squee]
posted by Johnny Wallflower (45 comments total) 28 users marked this as a favorite
 
CHEESECAKE
posted by poffin boffin at 3:59 PM on February 6, 2017 [3 favorites]


I dated a guy who had eaten capybara, I think in steak form, when he was backpacking in South America. He says it's delicious. Super tender.
posted by phunniemee at 4:05 PM on February 6, 2017 [4 favorites]


Anyway, my dog looks a little like a capybara, enough that I was always a little concerned he would try to eat my dog.

It didn't work out.
posted by phunniemee at 4:06 PM on February 6, 2017 [5 favorites]


"Plays with" suggests a bit more...energy...than what was on screen. "Snorgles," though, might cover the situation.
posted by thomas j wise at 4:06 PM on February 6, 2017 [28 favorites]


I love that capybaras are Something Metafilter Consistently Does Well. Great FPP.
posted by comealongpole at 4:29 PM on February 6, 2017 [5 favorites]


Unfortunately they live in groups and it's probably cruel to own less than five. Otherwise I would definitely have a capybara running around the house and yard.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 4:29 PM on February 6, 2017 [5 favorites]


I have now watched the first five seconds of the capybara + puppies supercombo and am already dying from the adorableness fwiw.
posted by comealongpole at 4:30 PM on February 6, 2017 [1 favorite]


Would the company of other animals suffice, Tell Me No Lies?
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 4:32 PM on February 6, 2017 [1 favorite]


THANK YOU
posted by Space Kitty at 4:36 PM on February 6, 2017


Dunno if I've mentioned this here in either a previous capybara thread or in the original song release one, but it is entirely possibly to sing NIN's "Copy Of A" as "capybara, capybara" (ask me how I know).
posted by comealongpole at 4:42 PM on February 6, 2017 [3 favorites]


Would the company of other animals suffice, Tell Me No Lies?

I honestly don't know. They obviously can bond with other types of animals, but when it comes to establishing dominance and other pack behavior I have no idea how it all works out. They have big nasty teeth and they aren't afraid to use them.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 4:42 PM on February 6, 2017 [2 favorites]


Super capybara fans may want to track down the kids' book Capyboppy, the true story of the year when childrens' book author Bill Peet had a capybara as a pet.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:54 PM on February 6, 2017 [4 favorites]


I love that capybaras are Something Metafilter Consistently Does Well. Great FPP.

Cappies bara.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:59 PM on February 6, 2017 [7 favorites]


Capybara fostering puppies is now my gold standard for good things happening in the world. Thank you.
posted by lumpenprole at 5:22 PM on February 6, 2017


call it what you want, it's still a rat.
posted by xmutex at 5:29 PM on February 6, 2017 [4 favorites]


This is so relaxing: capybara in a woody washtub.
posted by kinnakeet at 5:57 PM on February 6, 2017 [8 favorites]


My therapist is outstanding, but I think our sessions would go next-level if held in the company of capybaras.
posted by Caxton1476 at 6:06 PM on February 6, 2017 [7 favorites]


>call it what you want, it's still a rat.

In fairness, it's not JUST a rat.
posted by Sing Or Swim at 6:07 PM on February 6, 2017 [2 favorites]


God bless you, Johnny Wallflower
posted by schadenfrau at 6:13 PM on February 6, 2017 [6 favorites]


"I dated a guy who had eaten capybara, I think in steak form, when he was backpacking in South America. He says it's delicious. Super tender."

Plus, it's fish for Lent!
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:16 PM on February 6, 2017 [4 favorites]


I'm not sure, but I think those are Aussie dogs. The best kind of Capybara friend, obvs
posted by Snowishberlin at 6:19 PM on February 6, 2017


My therapist is outstanding, but I think our sessions would go next-level if held in the company of capybaras.

Seriously. I have had so much recent personal angst, not to mention the deep political anxiety we're all facing, that capybaryan (? actual word?) chillness is just what I needed. I think we all needed this one. Just like one big ball of cuddly Xanax.

Thanks again Johnny.
posted by GospelofWesleyWillis at 6:25 PM on February 6, 2017 [1 favorite]


Am I the only one who felt these were oddly menacing? Yes? No?

Too much Princess Bride in my youth, I suppose.
posted by instamatic at 6:47 PM on February 6, 2017 [3 favorites]


When I found out during the last Olympics that there were people whose job it was to like, herd resident capybaras off the golf course I was really mad for a minute that I didn't know: A) that was a job one could aspire to and B) golfers got to take precedence over capybaras.
posted by rtha at 6:58 PM on February 6, 2017 [7 favorites]


Ambient Squee would make a tremendous playlist title. Or mix tape. Or jam band. Really it's just a terrific phrase.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 7:15 PM on February 6, 2017 [2 favorites]


Puppy 1: I am the dominant one, i will nibble on you until I fall over.
Puppy 2: Aw hell no, i'mma gonna roll over and slap at you with my back paws.
Puppy 3.
Puppy 1: I will continue Nibbling for alpha status!
Capybara: I'm not really sure which Phish album I like the most, just gonna plop over for a bit. Snooore.

posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 7:22 PM on February 6, 2017 [8 favorites]


call it what you want, it's still a rat.

Rats are cute too. (Note: self links.)
posted by reventlov at 7:32 PM on February 6, 2017 [3 favorites]


Squeeeee! The tan-and-white Chinese Hoodeds look just like the one I had as a kid.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:44 PM on February 6, 2017 [1 favorite]


Rodents of Unusual Size? I am glad they exist.
posted by ckape at 8:01 PM on February 6, 2017 [4 favorites]


My female dog finds other dogs.......... tiresome. She has a couple friends but isn't a big fan of licking or jumping or y'know, too much happiness. Labs make her want to die. She frankly runs from puppies. Her brother is getting old and we've been worried about her being alone. Today I learned that she needs a capybara as a companion. Standing looking at each other in a vaguely companionable fashion with occasional sniffing is definitely her speed.
posted by fshgrl at 9:31 PM on February 6, 2017 [15 favorites]


Ratzilla
posted by Beholder at 9:36 PM on February 6, 2017


Plus, it's fish for Lent!

Wait, what?
posted by Tentacle of Trust at 11:40 PM on February 6, 2017 [1 favorite]


Taxonomy being not so well understood in the days when Catholic missionaries arrived, and the Bible being silent on New World animals, a couple of aquatic mammals were classed as "fish" for the purposes of the Lenten fast from meat, notably capybaras and beavers.

This is hilarious if you like your rules scientifically consistent, and although the spiritual point of the rule is largely in the act of abstention itself and so any arbitrary exclusion will work, the MORAL point of the rule is to eat in solidarity with the poor, making your totally allowed lobster dinner kind-of miss the point while your technically forbidden McDonald's burger seems more within the spirit of the rules.

So anyway, capybaras are fish for Lenten fast purposes!
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 12:02 AM on February 7, 2017 [15 favorites]


This is so relaxing: capybara in a woody washtub yt .

OMG, hell yes! Ever since the election, this stuff has become a major fixture of my self-care regimen.

Here are a few of my favore capybara onsen videos:

Snowy capies with tranquil music

Capybaras in a citron spa

VICE Japan explains capybara onsens
posted by palmcorder_yajna at 12:27 AM on February 7, 2017 [6 favorites]


I'ma just leave this here.
posted by jferg at 6:18 AM on February 7, 2017 [6 favorites]


Sing the post title to the tune of "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas": We need a capybara for president/Only a capybara will do
posted by soelo at 9:13 AM on February 7, 2017 [2 favorites]




They remind me of the Mystics from Dark Crystal.
posted by leotrotsky at 10:55 AM on February 7, 2017 [3 favorites]


"So anyway, capybaras are fish for Lenten fast purposes!"

Tastes like chicken.

I can't believe nobody but me had the bad taste to post this. So to speak.
posted by key_of_z at 11:53 AM on February 7, 2017


I like to think Evolution was stumped for new species one day and thought "what happens when I delete all the genes responsible for giving a shit?" Bingo, capybaras!
posted by tommasz at 11:57 AM on February 7, 2017 [3 favorites]


We call these Solemn Rodents in my relationship.
posted by fiercecupcake at 11:59 AM on February 7, 2017 [2 favorites]


After watching a number of capybaras making new animal friends I'm afraid there still isn't enough evidence to quell my curiosity: Are they butt-sniffers? I see them nuzzle a lot around faces and heads but do they also speak Ass?
posted by ezust at 2:54 PM on February 7, 2017


You can call me Cappy. You can call me Bara. You can call me Capmeister. Or you can call me El Capybarbarino, if you're not into that whole brevity thing.
posted by jonp72 at 5:37 PM on February 7, 2017


Cappies bara.

Capybarim.
posted by merriment at 5:15 AM on February 8, 2017 [1 favorite]


Capybaras might be chill but the one with the puppies is no dummy. At about 3:16 it figures out the game and nose attacks the camera.

vote #1 capybara kid
posted by iffthen at 5:21 AM on February 8, 2017


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