How Did I Miss That?
Welcome to Episode 10,
An ROUS Has Taken Over the Internet!
I’m Lisa Blank and this is How Did I Miss That?
I’m back and it feels so good to be recording again!! Coming to you on a Saturday because I’m too excited to wait for Tuesday. After some major technical difficulties with my computer where I didn’t have access to anything and couldn’t open any of my programs, it’s finally fixed and I’m back on the air waves. Hopefully you’re ready to jump down some more rabbit holes with me to discover all the things I’ve missed in the past several weeks.
Apparently, a new craze is happening and it’s one I didn’t know was so widespread. Nor do I quite understand how or why it started. And it all centers around…a rodent! Normally I don’t find rodents of any size to be cute or cuddly. And I certainly don’t want them depicted on my t-shirts and blankets or made into stuffed animals. But there seems to be an entire segment of the population who has become obsessed with the little creatures. I’m pretty sure these were the creatures that inspired the ROUSes in the Princess Bride. For they are certainly…rodents of unusual size.
Anyone figured it out yet? It’s the capybara! And they are certainly having a moment in the spotlight recently. Showing up in my Facebook feed on snarky tees, highlighted in reels and videos, and popping up in TV shows. Such an obscure animal to make such a wave! But maybe that’s the appeal…obscurity.
Personally, I think someone saw a pic of a cute animal with an unusual name, made and shared a meme, and the rest is internet history. But maybe there’s something to these animals. So, there I went, down the rabbit hole to find out not only why this phenomenon is happening, but more about the celebrity creatures themselves. Here’s what I found out…
Capybaras are the world’s largest rodents. Native to South America and interestingly, can be found in every South American country except Chile…maybe they’re scared of the Moai. In truth, the mountainous terrain isn’t suitable for these water lovers. Capybaras love marshes, jungle ponds, and flooded grasslands. Their bodies are made for the water with webbed feet and facial features on the tops of their heads that allow them to breathe and see while swimming. They can hold their breath for up to 5 minutes and often fall asleep in the water. Like all other rodents, their teeth never stop growing, but fortunately their diet of tough aquatic plants and grass keep them in check. Their barrel shaped bodies can weigh up to 150 pounds, truly an ROUS!
Perhaps what makes these animals so beloved though are their social skills and chill attitude. Referred to as “nature’s ottoman”, capybaras have no problem giving other animals a ride on their backs. They usually live in herds of 10-20 but can be found in groups of up to 100 members. Sometimes other species even join the party, like birds to keep the capybaras insect free. Their chill attitude can be attributed to a slow metabolism and not communing with Buddha, though. A diet of fibrous grasses and plants takes a while to digest, so similar to cows, capybaras are normally seen just chillin’ and chewing their food. Their size makes for fewer predators, so they can afford to sit back and relax a bit.
Now for the spur of the craze. Most people seem to think it started with none other than a YouTube video…because isn’t that where all good things start? Someone did a compilation video of capybaras and Don Toliver’s song “After Party” that went viral which led to shirts saying “I pull up” with a pic of a capybara. Others attribute the trend to the pandemic, when capybaras took over the empty parks and playgrounds in Argentina and sparked a social media takeover. The cute creatures were seen roaming about the neighborhoods, chewing up landscaping, knocking people off their bikes, and coming up to pets. No matter the catalyst, it seems capybaras are here to stay for a bit. Personally, I’m ready for koalas to make a comeback. The 80s can keep their0 shoulder pads and scrunchies, but I’d take a cute clip-on koala again. If you know, you know. Right Gen X?!
Thanks for listening! If you like what you’re hearing, please make sure to share this podcast with all your friends and neighbors. And don’t forget to click follow or subscribe. Then join me every Tuesday and Friday as I uncover another interesting tidbit of knowledge and wonder… how did I miss that?!
