Capybaras Invade Mato Grosso Legislative Assembly

Two capybaras entered the reception hall of the Legislative Assembly of Mato Grosso (ALMT) in Cuiabá on Thursday afternoon. The animals walked through the lobby, attracted the attention of staff and visitors, and were halted at the turnstiles that control access to the building’s other areas. After being stopped, the pair turned back toward the exit, where a man briefly appeared before they left the premises.

The capybaras are accustomed to the nearby Parque das Águas, a green space with water that draws the rodents to the area. A server who recorded the incident said the animals appear almost daily in the late afternoon, crossing from the park to the assembly grounds, grazing on the grass and sometimes entering the building’s reflective pool. Officials advise the public not to feed or handle the animals, allowing them to move safely on their own.