Capybaras Wander Into Brazil’s Mato Grosso Legislature

Lawmakers in Brazil’s Mato Grosso state have been sharing their workplace with some unusual visitors: capybaras calmly roaming through the legislature in Cuiabá. The building stands next to a wildlife park, and the large rodents reportedly enter the premises from time to time. Civil servant Nayara Bueno filmed the latest appearance as the animals moved through the building while she gently tried to lead them back outdoors. Bueno told the Associated Press, as reported by Boing Boing, that the capybaras “show up here quite often,” adding that staff have become accustomed to seeing them. Their latest visit did not cause any damage, although it briefly diverted attention from the business of the state assembly. Capybaras are native to South America and are the world’s largest rodents. They are semi-aquatic animals that commonly live near rivers, lakes and wetlands, often in social groups. Adults can weigh as much as 80 kilograms, or about 175 pounds. Their relaxed behavior and social nature have made them especially popular online. The video from Mato Grosso adds a public building to the growing list of places where the animals have attracted attention, even if the capybaras themselves appeared uninterested in parliamentary procedure. The footage shows the animals wandering through the legislature rather than causing a disturbance, leaving officials to handle the recurring problem with a gentle escort back outside.