The touching scene took place on one of the busiest highways in the north of Florianópolis, SC-401. While cars passed at high speed, on the afternoon of the 25th, a lone capybara dared to cross the avenue.
The capybara, apparently confused and unsure of itself, tried to find a gap in the heavy traffic. With cars and motorcycles passing quickly around him, the situation became dangerous for both the animal and the drivers.
The motorcyclist got off the motorcycle and went to help the animal – Photo: @paraisoflorianopolis/Instagram/Reproduction/NDThat’s when a motorcyclist driving in the opposite direction arrived at the scene. In a gesture of compassion, he decided to leave his vehicle and approached the rodent. The biker carefully led the animal onto a safe path, preventing it from continuing the dangerous journey.
The capybara seemed to understand the offered help and ran in the direction indicated, avoiding the traffic and returning to the forested area, its natural habitat.
Watch the video:
The video was recorded in SC-401 in Canasvieiras – Video: @paraisoflorianopolis/Instagram/Reproduction/ND
Capybaras create an “air of grace” and march through the neighborhoods of Greater Florianópolis.
Residents of Greater Florianópolis are already accustomed to seeing capybaras roaming the streets of the island and mainland.
They have also recently been seen in the Ipiranga area of San José and on Avenida Beira Mar Norte in the center of Florianópolis.
The Capybaras go on an urban adventure to explore Greater Florianópolis. Photo: @floripadiscover/Instagram/Reproduction/NDCapybaras, native to South America, are known for their friendly appearance and “zen” behavior. Moreover, they now seem to have accepted “Life style» cities and became city celebrities.
Residents and tourists who catch the roaming rodents share photos and videos on social media, making them even more popular.
The rodent was spotted in the Ipiranga area of Sao Jose – Video: @floripadiscover/Instagram/Reproduction/ND
“Is it just me, or are capybaras taking over the world?” the user wrote in a post on the social network.
But Beira Mar Avenue did not escape the catwalk for furry ones – Video: @floripadiscover/Instagram/Reproduction/ND
Although attractive, the appearance is unsettling.
PMA (Military Environmental Police) Lieutenant Renata Busfield says summer is the most suitable time of year for breeding, but warns that capybaras are outpacing the season.
Renata advises residents who see this type of rodent: “This is the situation with any animal in the state. If it is a simple gathering, then to the IMA, and if there is an environmental crime, hunting or cruelty, the military police must be called,” he explained.
Reproduction has no solution in sight
IMA (Institute of the Environment) Crisiuma professor and biologist Andre Klein states that rodent reproduction is “a huge problem at the national level with no solution in sight.”
Klein reports that these animals prefer to stay on river banks, and population imbalances often result from the conversion of forested areas to open areas.
“By converting these areas to habitats for the species, the number of predators that would only be big cats is dramatically reduced, in addition, of course, to the greater reproductive capacity of the species,” he explains.
According to the professor, a possible move could simply transfer the problem to another place.
“Because this is a systemic problem, the solutions are also systemic: greater conservation and restoration of riparian forests and, perhaps through public policy, habitat management,” he concludes.
Source: Ndmais