It's Baby Capybara Season!
November 6, 2018 10:14 AM Subscribe
Baby capybaras are arriving at zoos across the world. October 27 - At the Wellington Zoo, capybara septo-mom gives birth to twice as many pups as usual. Keepers note she is "a bit exhausted but she’s doing well". Their father, Pepe, was Wellington's most eligible bachelor this January. The pups have already slept through a small earthquake.
October 26 - Cotswold Wildlife Park - I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant, Special Capybara Edition. "Due to their large barrel-like build, mammal keepers were unaware their female, Belle, was pregnant until they discovered the newborn twins by her side during their recent morning checks." Belle and Ollie are proving attentive first-time parents.
Earlier this year, Lola and Chester of Belfast Zoo welcomed two pups. They were later named Tula and Cuzco via a contest.
October 26 - Cotswold Wildlife Park - I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant, Special Capybara Edition. "Due to their large barrel-like build, mammal keepers were unaware their female, Belle, was pregnant until they discovered the newborn twins by her side during their recent morning checks." Belle and Ollie are proving attentive first-time parents.
Earlier this year, Lola and Chester of Belfast Zoo welcomed two pups. They were later named Tula and Cuzco via a contest.
Baby capybaras are so perfect looking! They are just like mini versions of their mom. So adorable.
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 10:31 AM on November 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 10:31 AM on November 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
The pups have already slept through a small earthquake.
Capybaras seem like they’ll sleep through the end of the world. They’ll be the only mammals left after the next asteroid strike because they forgot to set their alarm clocks.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 10:53 AM on November 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
Capybaras seem like they’ll sleep through the end of the world. They’ll be the only mammals left after the next asteroid strike because they forgot to set their alarm clocks.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 10:53 AM on November 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
Capybaras! I love capybaras. What a great distraction on election day. Thank you Hypatia!
posted by widdershins at 10:58 AM on November 6, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by widdershins at 10:58 AM on November 6, 2018 [5 favorites]
Capybaras are aquatic zen masters, calmly allowing the universe to continue on its merry way. And occasionally letting another creature sit on them.
posted by tommasz at 11:00 AM on November 6, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by tommasz at 11:00 AM on November 6, 2018 [3 favorites]
Capybaras have this...look...about them. Maybe the slightly squinting eyes and upper lip that looks like an 1890's mustache is what does it- it's as if they're saying, "oh dear, now I've got to deal with *this* shit?"
Baby capys have the same visage; which, on a baby, looks even more hilarious.
posted by notsnot at 11:15 AM on November 6, 2018 [8 favorites]
Baby capys have the same visage; which, on a baby, looks even more hilarious.
posted by notsnot at 11:15 AM on November 6, 2018 [8 favorites]
Cappies bara. Like courts martial or attorneys general.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 12:08 PM on November 6, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by ricochet biscuit at 12:08 PM on November 6, 2018 [5 favorites]
I'm going to stay in this thread and avoid the election monitoring ones.
posted by allkindsoftime at 12:10 PM on November 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by allkindsoftime at 12:10 PM on November 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
Very small giant rats! Adorable.
posted by batter_my_heart at 12:31 PM on November 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by batter_my_heart at 12:31 PM on November 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
But did they look kinda like knobby thumbs when they were born? Because that's what rabbits look like as newborns - they don't even look like they should be out of the womb! And then BAM! a week later, they're being fun and jumpy and scampering.
posted by dbmcd at 12:37 PM on November 6, 2018
posted by dbmcd at 12:37 PM on November 6, 2018
The normal litter size of 3.5 just reminded me of the well-known fact that you tell a capybara's age by cutting it in half and counting the rings
Also, the only reason I can think of for the pups looking exactly like small adults is that the adults already look like baby moose
posted by kleinsteradikaleminderheit at 12:42 PM on November 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
Also, the only reason I can think of for the pups looking exactly like small adults is that the adults already look like baby moose
posted by kleinsteradikaleminderheit at 12:42 PM on November 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
I have a friend who’s having a hard day, so I sent her one of the links. Her response? “Eeeeeeeeee!” and descent into emojis.
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:26 PM on November 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by GenjiandProust at 1:26 PM on November 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
Capybaras are wonderful, and so is this post.
posted by mixedmetaphors at 1:40 PM on November 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by mixedmetaphors at 1:40 PM on November 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
I work across the street from a school for zookeepers, which keeps its capybara family in an enclosure next to the sidewalk so passersby can enjoy them. They are reliably soothing and amusing (even though if I stare too long one of them will glance up and give me a look like "Um, excuse me? We are trying to eat our lunch in peace?").
I also found out this way that on unseasonably cold days, the mom and dad capybaras will keep their smallest offspring warm by squishing it between their butts.
posted by huimangm at 1:52 PM on November 6, 2018 [11 favorites]
I also found out this way that on unseasonably cold days, the mom and dad capybaras will keep their smallest offspring warm by squishing it between their butts.
posted by huimangm at 1:52 PM on November 6, 2018 [11 favorites]
The Most Eligible Bachelor is looking charmingly coy.
posted by GospelofWesleyWillis at 2:30 PM on November 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by GospelofWesleyWillis at 2:30 PM on November 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
I have come back to this post like six times today to look at the little babies thank you
posted by sunset in snow country at 3:02 PM on November 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by sunset in snow country at 3:02 PM on November 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
♥_________♥
Also: "Due to their large barrel-like build, mammal keepers were unaware their female, Belle, was pregnant-- best dangling modifier, or bestest dangling modifier? I do love me a barrel-like mammal keeper.
posted by theatro at 3:05 PM on November 6, 2018 [8 favorites]
Also: "Due to their large barrel-like build, mammal keepers were unaware their female, Belle, was pregnant-- best dangling modifier, or bestest dangling modifier? I do love me a barrel-like mammal keeper.
posted by theatro at 3:05 PM on November 6, 2018 [8 favorites]
All can be measured by the standard of the capybara.
posted by hototogisu at 3:28 PM on November 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by hototogisu at 3:28 PM on November 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
Animals sitting on capybaras - one of the best possible uses of Tumblr.
Capybaras adopt everyone.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 4:19 PM on November 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
Capybaras adopt everyone.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 4:19 PM on November 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
I'm still sad that the Cappies bara who made a daring escape from the High Park zoo were eventually recaptured, and that the west end of Toronto now does not have a population of feral Capybara roaming its streets, licensed patios, and semi-derelict shopping malls.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 5:49 PM on November 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 5:49 PM on November 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
Keepers note she is "a bit exhausted but she’s doing well".
How can you tell if a cappy's exhausted? Seriously, how can you tell?
posted by scalefree at 9:04 PM on November 6, 2018
How can you tell if a cappy's exhausted? Seriously, how can you tell?
posted by scalefree at 9:04 PM on November 6, 2018
Capybaras always manage to look disapproving, yet zen. It's a state I strive for.
posted by sarcasticah at 8:15 AM on November 7, 2018
posted by sarcasticah at 8:15 AM on November 7, 2018
describing the carpincho as having a barrel-like build is so excellent and accurate, they are so pleasingly tubular and i support them and their important work in this field
posted by poffin boffin at 11:09 AM on November 7, 2018
posted by poffin boffin at 11:09 AM on November 7, 2018
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posted by AndrewStephens at 10:20 AM on November 6, 2018 [7 favorites]