Kapybara

Rodents

South American animals

The capybara, or water hog as we sometimes say in Swedish, is a gigantic rodent that can weigh up to 60kg. It is an efficient grass eater that can nibble even the driest and shortest blades of grass. Capybaras live in family groups of 10-30 individuals, of which one is the leader male and the rest females, young and subdominant males. The capybara is a skilful swimmer and when it feels threatened, it runs into the water and lies there with only its nose above the surface. This makes it almost invisible among the aquatic plants. It can also dive and stay underwater for up to five minutes. In the early 16th century, Catholic missionaries decided that it was permissible to eat capybara meat during Lent. This was probably because the monks believed that these large aquatic animals were related to fish, which are allowed to be eaten during Lent. Because capybara meat is considered very tasty and the skin valuable, hunting is still a very big problem. Kapybaran are also raised in pens for meat production. Today, the capybara is not considered endangered, but hunting and the rapid deforestation of the rainforest threaten the species in the long term.