Capybara and Monkey — the Only Females in Their Zoo Habitat — Band Together and Become Cuddly Friends
Zoos often group the two species because of their similar habitats and dispositions
A howler monkey and a capybara have formed a dear friendship while sharing an enclosure at the Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance, according to Good Morning America, Axios, and Fox 31. Baya and Rebecca — the 16-year-old monkey and 6-year-old capybara, respectively — have been spotted snuggling with each other as the summer temperatures in Colorado wind down.
The Denver Zoo shared a few snaps of the affectionate duo — the only two females in their habitat — in a post on Facebook. In one photo, Baya hugs Rebecca’s midsection and presses her face on her friend’s body in another shot. One more snap of the pair sees Rebecca on all fours, with Baya snuggling on her back, while both take shelter under a rock formation.
“Our howler monkey mom, Baya, and capybara, Rebecca, have been spotted sharing some seriously adorable cuddles,” the zoo wrote in the post. “You’re welcome for the cuteness overload.”
Both capybaras and howler monkeys are native to South America, but outside a zoo environment, seeing this kind of interaction between the two species is unlikely, per Axios. Howler monkeys tend to prefer high trees while capybaras usually stick to grassy areas.
However, because the animals’ natural habitats share some overlap and both have similarly docile dispositions, zoos often group howlers and capybaras together.
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Jessica Newell, an assistant curator at the Denver Zoo, told Axios that Baya and Rebecca are a good fit for each other.
“I think Baya just really finds Rebecca as a comforting friend,” Newell told the outlet. “Rebecca’s pretty calm, and Baya’s able to go to her for comfort and support … They are very content with each other.”