Cafe-Goers Can’t Get Enough of These Rodents

St. Augustine, Florida’s claim to fame as America’s oldest city now has an unusual new attraction drawing visitors from across the country. The Capybara Cafe, which opened last October near the Flagler College campus, offers animal enthusiasts the rare opportunity to cuddle with capybaras – gentle giants that have become social media’s favorite oversized rodents, according to Times of India.

These South American natives, which can grow to more than four feet long and weigh well over 100 pounds, have become the latest “it” animals to capture American hearts. At the cafe, visitors can experience these web-footed creatures climbing into their laps, munching on corn on the cob, and eagerly seeking head scratches in an intimate setting that goes beyond typical zoo encounters.

“You give them lots of scratches and love,” explained Stephanie Angel, the cafe’s founder. “If you’re really good at giving scratches, they’ll actually fall over. So that’s always our goal to get them so comfortable that they fall over.”

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Not Your Average Animal Encounter

The Capybara Cafe experience begins in a reception area complete with couches and an open pen containing baby chicks. Visitors are then escorted in small groups of about six people to a more intimate room where the main attraction awaits. Blankets are placed over guests’ laps before three capybaras are brought in to freely interact with them.

Unlike traditional zoo settings where barriers separate humans from animals, the cafe creates an environment where meaningful physical contact is not only allowed but encouraged. “Several zoos and wildlife parks across the U.S. offer encounters with capybaras, but Angel said none of them provide the intimacy with the animals that visitors get at the Capybara Cafe,” ABC News reported.

This unique approach has proven tremendously popular, with reservations now booked several months in advance as animal lovers eagerly await their turn to interact with these charismatic megarodents.

Surprise Stars: When Supporting Acts Steal the Show

While capybaras may be the headliners, visitors are often surprised to discover they aren’t alone in their affections by the end of their visit. The experience includes encounters with several other exotic animals, including a skunk, wallaby, and armadillo that roam freely among guests during the sessions.

Leah Macri, who recently visited from Orlando with her daughter, found herself particularly enchanted by an unexpected animal companion. “Even though she had come for the capybaras, Macri enjoyed holding the armadillo the most,” noted Yahoo News. “He was the cuddly, like the best. He was just the softest,” she said. “He was just very sweet.”

These surprising connections highlight how the cafe offers more than just an opportunity to meet trendy internet-famous animals – it creates space for discovering unexpected animal affinities that visitors might never have anticipated.

Expectations vs. Reality: The Tactile Truth

Many visitors arrive with preconceived notions about what interacting with a capybara might be like, only to have those expectations challenged by the reality. “Their fur kind of feels like straw a bit,” Macri observed after her visit, highlighting the disconnect between the animals’ plush toy representations and their actual physical characteristics.

Chris Cooper, who drove 157 miles from Weeki Wachee with his wife to visit the cafe, expressed surprise at both the texture of the animals and their demeanor. “I wasn’t expecting how affectionate they were,” Cooper said, revealing how the experience often defies expectations in delightful ways.

These revelations underscore the educational value of the cafe, allowing visitors to develop more accurate understandings of animals they may have previously known only through curated social media posts or nature documentaries.

A Mission Beyond Entertainment

Despite its name, The Capybara Cafe doesn’t actually serve coffee or hot food. The “cafe” in the name refers more to the social gathering aspect than to culinary offerings. Instead, it sells capybara-themed merchandise such as T-shirts, coffee mugs, and stuffed animals.

More importantly, the business was created with a specific conservation purpose. According to Angel, the cafe was established to financially support Noah’s Ark Sanctuary Inc., a Hastings, Florida-based nonprofit animal refuge. This mission-driven approach distinguishes the business from purely entertainment-focused animal attractions.

Visitors can choose between a half-hour encounter priced at $49 per person or an hour-long session for $99 that includes extended time with the auxiliary animals. These fees help sustain both the cafe’s operations and its affiliated sanctuary.

Riding the Wave of Animal Trends

Capybaras join a succession of animals that have enjoyed their moment in the American cultural spotlight. Previous “it” animals have included axolotls, owls, hedgehogs, foxes, and sloths – each capturing public fascination for a period before another creature takes center stage.

During last year’s holiday shopping season, retailers capitalized on capybara mania by offering themed merchandise including slippers, purses, robes, and bath bombs. The Capybara Cafe represents the logical next step in this progression – moving from merchandise to experiences that allow people to engage directly with the animals they’ve come to adore through screens.

The cafe’s popularity signals that the capybara trend has staying power beyond mere passing internet fascination. Angel has already announced plans to expand, with a second location set to open soon in St. Petersburg, Florida, suggesting that America’s capybara obsession is far from over.

A New Paradigm for Animal Tourism

The overwhelming success of The Capybara Cafe potentially signals a shift in how Americans wish to interact with exotic animals. Rather than simply observing creatures from behind barriers, many visitors now seek meaningful, tactile experiences that create lasting emotional connections.

As the cafe prepares to expand to its second location, it appears these oversized rodents will continue their reign as Florida’s most unexpected tourism ambassadors – one lap cuddle at a time – while simultaneously supporting conservation efforts through their newfound celebrity status.

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