Interview With A Capybara Owner

By Jill Harness in Animals & Pets, Blogs & Internet on Jun 25, 2009 at 8:34 pm

Capybara owner Melanie Typaldos gave a great interview about her unusual pet on the Estatic Days blog. Her pet is named Caplin Rous as in Rodents Of Unusual Size from the Princess Bride. Some of her stories about walking Caplin Rous are priceless. Read the whole thing for some great fun, but here’s a few highlights:

“In a single word, I would describe him as needy. He always wants to be with me and can “eep” loudly if he knows I am nearby but he can’t get to me. He follows me around the house and the yard and expects me to watch him while he swims or grazes. He panics if he doesn’t know where I am. When he thinks it’s time for me to come home from work, he will go to the gate and wait for me.”

“When people hear him they are always amazed. His voice is often mistaken for a birdsong. When he’s nervous he sounds like the dinosaurs in Jurassic Park. When he’s happy he sounds like a Geiger counter.”

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  1. Kalel
    Jun 25th, 2009 at 8:59 pm

    Inconceivable!

  2. LisaL
    Jun 25th, 2009 at 9:40 pm

    Wow, I didn’t know people kept them as pets. Sounds like a very interesting one though. And LOVE the noises they make. So cute.

  3. Sera
    Jun 25th, 2009 at 10:22 pm

    I want a capybara!

  4. boyschwen
    Jun 25th, 2009 at 11:20 pm

    I first found out about Capybaras from that cartoon “The Tick”. He had a pet capybara named “Speak”.

  5. Mytake
    Jun 26th, 2009 at 1:01 am

    The capybara looks very noble and dignified in that picture. But these creatures roam over large areas, right? Not meant to live on a backyard swimming in a plastic pool.

  6. Zo
    Jun 26th, 2009 at 1:05 am

    Not meant to be in a backyard but from the sound of it he’s living a good life.

  7. emmiline
    Jun 26th, 2009 at 1:35 am

    and dogs are supposed to be wolves that have large territories. sometimes life just doesn’t work out the way nature intended. if he’s got a good life, then it’s not such a bad thing. i’m not saying everyone should go out and buy one…but responsible pet ownership isn’t a bad thing.

  8. Britt
    Jun 26th, 2009 at 1:41 am

    I love pet capybaras. One day, one day!

  10. Mytake
    Jun 26th, 2009 at 2:50 am

    emmiline, dogs have been regularly domesticated for the last 150 centuries. Also, “good life” is a naive anthropomorphization, the animal’s relation with his species and natural habitat has been cut short, how can that be a good thing?

  11. mother hubbard
    Jun 26th, 2009 at 4:10 am

    He needs a girlfriend. Instead, he’s in an unnatural environment and is psychologically disturbed. Wild animals aren’t meant to fulfill selfish, narcissistic human control freaks, Get an ear piercing, buy a stupid sports car and let the rat out of his cage – permanently.

  12. Guest
    Jun 26th, 2009 at 6:29 am

    Pure irony, mother hubbard. Pure irony.

  13. christina
    Jun 26th, 2009 at 6:41 am

    capybaras are not pets!
    and they give me the creeps..biggest rodent in the world!

  14. Gauldar
    Jun 26th, 2009 at 9:08 am

    Hey now, stop slamming Caplin Rous for living the high life. It’s too late to drop him off in the wild to fend for himself now… I mean, once you got a kiddy pool you can’t ever do without one!

  15. Christophe
    Jun 26th, 2009 at 2:59 pm

    Is it tasty? :p

  16. Ali S.
    Jun 26th, 2009 at 3:49 pm

    “Most people have no idea what he is and some take that as a personal affront, angry that such an animal could even exist.”

    Oh, I know a couple of those type of folks. Oy vey!

  17. Lettuce
    Jun 26th, 2009 at 9:24 pm

    lmao – I say he has a GREAT life. These guys are hunted and eaten more than deer in their native land. That, and they are constantly under attack by alligators, anacondas, panthers… hell, if I had the choice I’d live his life rather than a brief and bitter existence in the Amazon!

  18. mother hubcap
    Jun 27th, 2009 at 12:21 am

    Yeah guest, irony is mother’s middle name. Couldn’t feed her doggie OR her capybaras. Well, well…

  19. that one guy
    Jul 10th, 2009 at 7:24 pm

    How and where do I go to purchase a capybara for a pet. Are they illegal to import to california?

  20. Joxerbuddy
    Sep 9th, 2009 at 10:20 am

    While I agree that capybaras shouldn’t be kept as pets by the general public, I believe Caplin’s owner has done more than most dog and cat owners do. You people are judging this lady on this one article, yet if you took the time to read more about her, you’d find that she educates people all the time about this unusual animal. She has written a children’s book, and has a website for Caplin as well.
    Just because Caplin is not a more common pet like a dog or cat, doesn’t mean he can’t be a great pet for the right owner. He’s a rodent, and by his very nature has the ability to adapt, as can be seen in the various videos he has. As with ANY animal, research is the key.

  21. Sherry Jones
    May 8th, 2010 at 4:02 pm

    Please let me know where I can buy a Capybera. We love them. The yard and house are perfectg for one or two…

    Sherry

  22. captain capybara
    May 18th, 2010 at 11:53 am

    I have known about capybaras for over forty years.
    There is nothing wrong with having one as a pet
    as long as you know what you are doing ahead of time.
    They are primarily outdoor animals and need to gnaw
    on hardwood to keep their teeth in good condition.
    AND PLEASE REMEMBER,they are vegetarians.


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