In 1999, a gated community was constructed in Benavidez, Buenos Aires, Brazil. It was created in a wetlands area, and it is a beautiful housing estate with rivers, and pools, shady areas, parks and golf courses.
The area this development was built on was a traditional capybara breeding ground. Naturally, the human encroachment resulted in a huge decline in the population. Over time, the capybaras learned to keep to the waterside, in the tree line, and to the roads.
However, during the lockdowns of Covid, the capybaras experienced freedom, freedom from quite so many humans, and also so many cars. Their numbers rose by 16% in a single year.
The next summer, there was a drought, and these rodents of unusual size became emboldened as they sought food. Particularly attractive was the grass on the golf courses, and also rose bushes - those were wonderful! Gardens became the capybaras' larder, and they enjoyed themselves fully.
As people started returning to the outside world, the capybaras largely ignored them. Now, the people are shouting about the 'rodent invasion', and how 'something must be done'. And those outside the gated communities are replying with comments about the 'human invasion' of the capybaras' lands, and the 'something' is the gated-people need to learn to live with their neighbours.
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