Capybaras have become surprise visitors at a Brazilian state legislature in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, repeatedly strolling through the front doors and interrupting voting sessions. Staffer Nayara Bueno captured footage of the semi-aquatic rodents on July 30, noting that the animals frequently visit the building to eat grass and wade in a nearby fountain.
Lawmakers preparing for a vote at the Mato Grosso state legislature recently found themselves sharing space with some of South America’s most relaxed wildlife. A group of capybaras strolled through the front door of the local legislative building in Cuiabá, surprising officials who were organizing their legislative agenda.
The building’s proximity to a park filled with local fauna means these uninvited guests are far from strangers. Capybaras have built a global internet following for their remarkably calm demeanor and social habits, but seeing them navigate tile floors during official business adds a surreal layer to local governance.
Daily Visits From Nearby Wetlands
The routine nature of these visits points to a simple geographic reality. Because a lake sits directly in front of the assembly building, the area regularly hosts populations of the semi-aquatic herbivores, which can grow to weigh up to 175 pounds (80 kilograms).
Staff members have adjusted to the steady stream of wildlife wandering past the threshold.
Nayara Bueno, staffer, noted that at dusk they always cross the street and head over to the assembly building because there is always a running fountain in front, adding that they consistently hang around there to eat the grass and wade into the fountain.
Security Footage and Assembly Interrruptions
On July 30, staffer Nayara Bueno filmed two of the rodents lurking across the tile floor of the legislature, behaving as though they had official business to attend to. Bueno stepped in to shepherd the oversized animals back outside toward the wildlife-rich park next door.
Despite the unexpected wildlife presence disrupting voting sessions in the central Brazilian state, the visit caused no damage to the Mato Grosso state legislature building.