Capybaras have quietly taken over the internet—and the world. In this episode, we trace how a giant South American rodent became a global cultural icon, from Japanese zoos in the 1980s that put capybaras in warm baths, to today’s flood of plush toys, memes, stationery, and viral videos. Boosted by social media and characters like Kapibara-san, capybaras now outperform cats and dogs online, admired for their uncanny calm and sociability. In an anxious age, their appeal isn’t cuteness alone—it’s the fantasy of unbothered, communal serenity, wrapped in whiskers and webbed feet.

https://www.economist.com/culture/2025/11/25/what-has-webbed-feet-a-big-snout-and-is-adored-on-the-intern ...