Capybara Watching (Breeding Season) in Rio de Janeiro 2024

Capybaras are one of those animals that are used to the urban environment, so they often live in parks and near ponds. They are quite similar to their close relative—the Guinea pig—but a lot bigger. Capybaras are comfortable both on land and in water. In fact, they are great swimmers and can even sleep in the water leaving only their noses above the surface. When it's too hot, ​they just plunge into the water and stay there until it gets cooler. Capybaras are very social and usually, live in groups of 10-20 individuals.

The interesting thing is that when a female delivers baby capybaras, they rejoin the group and then keep suckling from different females, so it's an alloparental species, which means that all individuals act in a parental manner. Breeding peaks in Octob​er and November, so it's the perfect time to watch this wonderful process. Capybaras are gentle and usually allow humans to pet and feed them.