Capybara Cuddles

Taken at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Rainforest - Cleveland, OH

Capybaras are usually an animal that I walk by the exhibit, say "Mhm" and move on because they're often just sitting out in the dirt somewhere with their cutish rat-like faces not doing much. I didn't realize that they were water animals though and seeing them wading around in the shallow pool like this was both a surprise and a treat when the baby capybara started nuzzling his mom!

Looking up information about these animals, I find that their scientific name is water pig and that they really are water loving, dwelling animals. When faced with a danger, they will actually run to water because of their excellent swimming and diving abilities.