Melly’s Blog:

Today’s blog post features photos of a large group of capybaras that we spotted when a few of them crossed the Pantaneira Highway, as shown in the photo above. So rather than being all birds, this post is all capys. Hope you enjoy the photos.

Our most excellent guide, Ailton Lara of Pantanal Nature, said that almost no one pays any attention to the capybaras. For that reason, they are fairly brave as you drive by. But they get suspicious when you stop since so few vehicles stop to take a look at these adorably large rodents. I believe this one is an adult female, possibly pregnant. Notice how beautifully red and luxurious her fur is! She is quite the looker!

This male did not trust us and was at high alert, although he did not bark. It looks like he’s seen some battles. There is a n obvious wound on his morrillo and a few places where his hair looks thin.

This is the same male as in the photo above. Most of the capybaras were on the other side of the road and he decided he needed to join them in a hurry.

Here he is as he emerges from the brush and starts to cross the road to rejoin the band. He’s walking just as fast as his little capy legs will carry him.

I like this shot because you can see the underside of his paw. I don’t think Garibaldi Rous walks like this but then he is seldom moving this fast. You can also see that he is missing big patches of fur. He has a strip of fur missing on his flank, his legs are mostly devoid of fur and his rear end is completely bald. Well, he’s still cute.

Ailton said that the fences only keep the cattle and horses in and do not disrupt the movements of the wildlife. This seems to be true, at least for this fence and capybaras. He easily slid under the lowest wire on the fence.

This male had a reaction to us that was similar to the first male’s. Wild capys are not very trusting animals.

I had wanted to get some photos of capybaras crossing the road and these guys were very cooperative.

Once everyone was on the same side of the road, it was time to swim away. This photo shows two adult females taking to the water.

Capybaras generally seek refuge in the water when they feel threatened and these guys were no exception.

This is how capys swim when they don’t feel very threatened or when the water is shallow. If the want to move quickly or something is after them, they swim fully submerged.