 Capybara and howler monkey snuggling –Courtesy of the Denver Zoo22-09-2025, We could all learn a few things from the animal world. This week’s lesson comes courtesy of a capybara and a howler monkey, two animals you would not expect to see together in close contact in the wild. The world’s largest rodent, capybaras are typically found in marshy grasslands and swamps. Howler monkeys spend most of their time in trees, living in the dense canopies of the Central and South American forests. But captivity in the Denver Zoo has given this unlikely pair a chance to get acquainted. ‘Baya’, the 16-year-old monkey was visited by 6-year-old ‘Rebecca’ of the very docile capybara species. The two, in real life, share geographic locations in the southern hemisphere. Currently, a Denver Zoo exhibit features Baya and Rebecca as the only females in an enclosure filled with other male animals, so, the females have looked past their differences and everything else that might divide them. Instead, Rebecca and Baya have become best friends, spending tons of time cuddling together and piggybacking across their enclosure. “I think Baya just really finds Rebecca as a comforting friend,” Jessica Newell, the Denver Zoo’s assistant curator of Tropical Discovery told Axios Denver.  “Rebecca’s pretty calm, and Baya’s able to go to her for comfort. They are very content with each other.” The furry, golden-haired roommates have captivated the attention of spectators at the zoo and others beyond its walls. Pictures of the animals in various snuggling poses were posted to social media recently and the images have been spreading joy across the internet ever since. “Animals can teach us a lot,” a Facebook commenter named Maureen wrote. “Love one another. We are all in this together.” “We humans could take a page from their playbook,” added Ann, another Facebook commenter. “Kindness. Sharing. Mutual respect. Once again, love is re-imagined through nature.” Unlikely Animals Snuggling Together at the Denver Zoo Have Melted the Internet with Their Cuteness |
