This may be just about the most wonderful thing ever. At Ecstatic Days, there is the story of a woman who owns a Capybara as a pet. I saw this on Twitter from Gary Wake.
Now, I have to tell you, the first time I saw a Capybara at the Memphis Zoo about ten years ago, I did a double take and had a moment of surrealism like nobody’s business. I became a bit frozen as I watched the beast at the end of a fenced in area.
Squirrel Queen: You okay?
Me: What the hell is that?
Squirrel Queen: It’s a capybara.
Me: Why have I never seen a capybara?
Squirrel Queen: I have no idea.
Me: Have I been living under a rock?
Squirrel Queen: You just going to stand there?
Me: Umm, it’s like a big hamster.
Squirrel Queen: Would you stop it?
Me: Hold me.
Or something like that. Anyway, capybaras have fascinated me ever since.
That racket you just heard was me SQUEALING with delight.
The first photo at that link may be the most perfect photo I’ve ever seen. It captures both the intense languidness of a steamy summer day *and* the wary disapproval of the capybara who was enjoying everything just fine until you happened to barge in and ruin things, you cretin.
Heeeee!
Now I shall hum happily the rest of the day, in tribute to my friends the capybaras. Who are better than all of us, you know.
(P.S. — The “you” refers to the photographer, not to you, ‘coma. NEVER you.)
He won’t do anything if there isn’t something in it for him.
Kind of sounds like a politician, doesn’t it. Heh.
I want one!!! A capybara…..not a politician.
Me too, although I think a capybara might wight wig Mabel out.
But Mabel is quite diplomatic, so I’d think she’d adjust. Whereas Mr Spot, on the other hand, might think it’s lunch.
Newscoma fears the giant rodent as if it were Godzilla.
Just the first time I saw it. Now I’m quite affectionate toward the giant hamster.
Imagine the expressions of the local cats, though, if you brought one home.
“Hey, let’s saunter over to the Coma Compound and taunt all those do … OHMYGODRODENTSOFUNUSUALSIZEGET IN THE CAR”
I need to comment something more than awesome, but AWESOME!. You definitely need to have a Capybara on a harness and leash to go around town. Perhaps post Mabel someday though, because she likes her own spotlight.
Of all weirdness, catching up on The Daily Show, capybaras showed up there last night:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/79521/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-wed-jun-24-2009?c=60:119