Rare Sighting at Shelter Bay Marina

Driving after dark back to Shelter Bay after a day of shopping in Panama City, we had a chance encounter with an unusual animal...the world's largest rodent, the Capybara. These fuzzy photos show the giant rodent wandering across the road. He weighed an estimated 50-60 lbs and did not seem startled by our truck lights as he weaved back and forth across the road seemingly scenting for something...perhaps a female in estrus?

Capybara, world's largest rodent spotted near Shelter Bay Marina

Closely related to guinea pigs, the herbivorous Capybara is a semiaquatic mammal commonly found in South America. They live in forested areas near water, especially swamps, streams, ponds and marshes, so the habitat here is prefect for them with the many streams crisscrossing the topical jungle. They are generally found in groups and are very docile and social, but this one appeared to be alone on his evening stroll along the roadside. After a few minutes of wandering along, he finally disappeared into the tall grass along the roadside. Lucky us to have happened upon this seldom sighted animal!

Here's a better photo of a Capybara...