A Beautiful Relationship

Capybara and Cowbird, Tambopata River, Peru. Canon EOS 7D, Canon 600mm f/4, 1/1600 second @ f4.5, ISO 400

This is a beautiful, mutually-beneficial relationship between the capybara and the cowbird, or what science would refer to as symbiosis or mutualism. The poor capybara, the world’s largest rodent, is unmercifully pestered by biting insects. Just have a look at all the bloody bite marks on its outrageously bulbous nose. The opportunistic cowbird stays perched upon the capybara’s head or back and just feasts away on a seemingly infinite source of food while the capybara gets some temporary relief from the constant torture from above. The patient look of near bliss on the capybara’s face almost tells the whole story in one single image frame.

Capybara, Tambopata River, Peru. Canon EOS 7D, Canon 600mm f/4, 1/1200 second @ f4.5, ISO 400

I could not find a single image frame without biting insects on its nose or flying in the vicinity of its head. The Capybara is native to South American rain forests and has an average height of 20 to 25 inches and can weigh between 75 to 150 pounds.

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