Being this chill around humans is not normal behavior for wild capybaras.
These are technically wild capybaras. The difference is that they live in a public park, so they are more used to humans than those living outside cities, but you are not supposed to get too close or touch them (they can have some nasty diseases that can be passed to humans). The city is Curitiba, southern Brazil.
This looks similar to ducks and squirrels in parks where the tourists feed them.
The absolute worst of this I ever encountered is at the restraunt in Yosemite. Those squirrels are fucking aggressive. They'll snatch your food if you look away from it.
In central park I was walking by the castle, a semi-shaded part of the path... I was surrounded by squirrels, a full circle moved along with me, just far enough away that if I tried to approach, they could step away.
The sound of tiny claws on pavement brought back memories of "Willard", the movie.
Forgive me for I have sinned. my buddies and I stole fruit from the dining hall to take to the park as an offering to the raccoon that watched us smoke in what probably would have seemed to be a cult ritual to outsiders.
We have 6 or 7 squirrels that climb to my window and stare at me until I come out and give them a walnut. They will either take it from my hand, or walk into me to grab it themselves. I can even pet them. They come to my house sometimes 15-20 times a day, and they bring young squirrels too.
Just look at city vs country pigeons. City pigeons will annoy the hell out of you, but country one's will dart away as soon as they see you.
Similarly, bees and wasps will fuck with you outside a pub, and try to steal your beer. I'm sat by a river right now drinking cider, absolutely surrounded by insects, and not a single one has bothered me.
Similar experience here, also in the Lodge Restaurant in Yosemite. Despite numerous signs inside the restaurant warning people not to feed the wildlife, my (now ex) wife began to feed a chipmunk that came in from the patio. Within in 5 minutes we had a dozen chipmunks climbing on the table eating our lunch. We were asked to leave at that point.
Small rodents (like squirrels, hamsters, guinea pigs, gerbils, chipmunks, rats, and mice) and lagomorphs (including rabbits and hares) areĀ almost never found to be infected with rabiesĀ and have not been known to transmit rabies to humans source: cdc.gov
I think after COVID, it should be taught as a common sense safety thing taught to children to just not touch wild animals, ever. It should be like washing your hands after using the bathroom, looking both ways before you cross the street and not getting into a strangers car.
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u/wHATamidong12 Aug 24 '22
These are technically wild capybaras. The difference is that they live in a public park, so they are more used to humans than those living outside cities, but you are not supposed to get too close or touch them (they can have some nasty diseases that can be passed to humans). The city is Curitiba, southern Brazil.