(Above: Caplin Rous.)
This post is dedicated to all of the readers who said they'd rather cuddle rodents than eat them. (Anyone who wouldn't mind giving them a nibble can skip this post and click here.)
Texan Melanie Typaldos knew she could never be satisfied with a hamster for a pet. No, Ms. Typaldos wanted all the rodent love she could get. So she adopted a South American capybara. Though the enormous beasts can weigh over a hundred pounds and are widely believed to be dumb as rocks, Ms. Typaldos insists they make perfect companions.
She claims her capybara, Caplin Rous, can perform more tricks than most dogs and likes to cuddle up on cold winter nights. He follows her around the house all day and sits in her lap nibbling treats until his bulk begins to cut off the circulation in her legs.
Aww. I never thought I'd say this, but he is kind of cute. Maybe I won't try that capybara chili after all.
Read a full interview with Melanie Typaldos (complete with photos and videos) here.
UPDATE 8-9-9: NEW VIDEO BELOW!
awww! he is soooooooo cute!
ReplyDeleteHello. Well, I have never heard of that type of rodent. But I know of a kind that looks like it- EXACTLY like it. It is called a nutria. They're are many of them in New Orleans. (Where I am right now.) Could they be the same thing? Hmm... I really dont know! But Where DO you get these ideas of eating rodents. ahahaha. That is just VILE. hahaha!
ReplyDeleteI feel kind of bad--the post is dedicated to me (:P) and I think that that thing is U-G-L-Y ugly. It looks like a cross between a dog and a porcupine. XD
ReplyDeleteFor a rodent the capybara is pretty adorable. :)
ReplyDeleteOmgygosh! Princess bride, anyone?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?
ReplyDeleteRodents of Unusual Size! (ROUS!)
That is so cool! It reminds me of the Princess Bride's R.O.U.S.s :D
ReplyDeleteI love rodents and this is the coolest one I EVER seen!
He looks like a nice sleepy wombat with thinner legs.
ReplyDeleteI feel like giving him a cuddle XD
It's better then a fish.
ReplyDeleteAww! He's adorable! I want a capybara so bad now!!! Of course, my mothers calls the hamster I have a rat, so I think that's as far as I'm getting for rodents NOW, but I can dream! I love that look on his face. Having known many rodents, I can tell that's the universal look of a good rodent.
ReplyDeleteI want one!! Where can you get them???
ReplyDeletei like my pet rats more. :)
ReplyDeleteIs it even legal to have a capybara as a pet?
ReplyDeleteThat thing is as big as my golen retriever.
ReplyDeleteI love giant rodents as much as the next girl, but I prefer guinea pigs. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could have a 30-lb rodent? As in, a giant guinea pig, but not capybara-sized?
so, this is totally off topic...but when does the next book in the KS series come out?
ReplyDeletethat's super cute!
ReplyDeleteOh and by the way Kirsten, I saw something interesting on the news tonight. Type in Brooke Greenburg into google and check it out.
How did you know about my favorite animal (besides the teddy bear, but i don't think that counts)? i'm not sure i would want one to sit on my lap though.
ReplyDeleteinteresting trivia fact though: they are the larges rodents in the world but i'm not sure they've found out about what's in new york's other city.
AAAAWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!! he's adorable! hey, "capybaras" like the capybaras corp. from book one of kiki strike? the one that gave the irregulars 100,000 dollars each? hmmmmmmmm..............I loved that book. then again, who on this blog doesn't?
ReplyDeleteIt is soooo cute! I have a hamster, but it farts.
ReplyDeletecats are better! but it's still waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay cute!
ReplyDeleteITs a ROUS!
ReplyDeleteAHHHH itsgonna kill us ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL AHHHHHHHHHHH!
Sorry I spazzd out for a sec lol that thing looks weaird
Awww... I wanna one!! X3
ReplyDelete* But cats are still the best.
ReplyDeleteMy two sisters
ReplyDeleteGuinea Pigs look just like it! It is pretty cute!
AWWWWWWWWWWW!! That is so adorable! (Not the Cabybara itself... I think it's about 6 and a half on the cute scale. I mean the loyal and cuddleiness of Cabybara. It's like a dog... Kinda)
ReplyDeleteUU: Ohmyosh! I love that movie!! It does kinda remind me of those giant rodents. =)
im so sad about michael jackson :( :( :(
ReplyDeleteI WANT IT!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteKirsten - Have you read The Mole People? It's about the homeless people who live in the subway tunnels and other (lower) tunnels in NYC. It's really good and interesting! I think you would like it.
ReplyDeleteBTW-my fried Maw bought the Pride and Predijuce and Zombies book. BONUS - It also has minjas!
i love those things! but i will always love my evil cats more, one of them sees dead people
ReplyDeleteYou guys? remember the bunny (widely accepted as the cutest animal in existence) is a RODENT!!!!
ReplyDeletei will be asking for one for christmas.
ReplyDeleteI used to be obsessed with capybaras! I don't even know why. It was a while ago. But I don't think I'd ever want one as a pet.
ReplyDeleteThey're essentially just giant guinea pigs. They live in the wild in parts of South America and are usually quite friendly. Small children can even ride on them safely. And unless I am much mistaken, they are more closely related to rabbits than rodents.
ReplyDeleteYall Need To Stop Lyin!! That THing Is An Unusual Creature That No one Should Own!Who Wants A 100 pound Rodant In there Home Pool And around there Neighborhood!Im So Distgusted,People Do Anything for 15minutes Of Fame!Next Week We Will Be Reading About It Eating Her!Remember The Monkey?U Do The Math!This Is Outragouse and Crazy!This Thing is Beyong Ugly Its Creeepy!What Did U Feed It That It Gets From 3pounds To 100 hundred!OMG!GET RID OFF IT!
ReplyDelete