Crazy for Capybaras

From an interactive capybara café in Tokyo to stardom on TikTok, capybaras are suddenly gaining worldwide fame. But why not see them in their natural habitat — the rivers and rainforests of Guyana?

One of Guyana’s many impressive giant species, the capybara are often over four feet long and two feet tall, making them the world’s the largest rodent. They are excellent swimmers as their feet are slightly webbed, which also gives them a distinctive star-shaped footprint.

When it is time to mate, females whistle through their nose to attract males. When capybaras bark, they sound a bit like a dog. Sometimes, when they are threatened, they squeak like a guinea pig.

Their two front teeth never stop growing. They use these teeth to gnaw at aquatic plants, tree bark and other vegetation. If these teeth ever fall out, they quickly grow back. Their scientific name (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) means “water horse,” which makes sense given that they can spend up to five minutes underwater.

Despite having a lifespan of up to ten years, they don’t often live past four years in the wild, giving they are preyed on by large predators such as the jaguar, harpy eagle and caiman.

Why not take a kayak tour along Guyana’s extraordinary Rupununi River? You might just paddle past a capybara!