Capybara mom has triplets one day after dad was caught in a 'steamy' pool photo with her sister
'Looks like Rodney’s been keeping busy with both sisters,' the Edinburgh Zoo wrote.
Who knew capybaras had such complicated love lives? Luna and Rodney, a pair of capybaras at the Edinburgh Zoo in Scotland, just welcomed three new baby capybaras on October 28. As the zoo celebrated the triplets, Rodney's love life was thrust into the public eye for the whole world to see. On October 27, 2026, Edinburgh Zoo shared a few photos that explained what Rodney had been up to while Luna was pregnant with their babies. The photos received 5,900 likes, over 690 comments, and 300 reshares.
'Steamy pool moment'
The Edinburgh Zoo announced the birth of the capybara triplets in a public statement on their website. Darren McGarry, the head of animal care at the zoo, said, "The triplets are adorable, exploring their new home while staying close to mom and taking in the world around them." However, a few days ago, the zoo shared photos of Rodney in a pool with a female capybara. They described it as a "steamy pool moment," but instead of Luna, Rodney was cozied up with Cali, her sister. The post said, "Looks like Rodney’s been keeping busy with both sisters." One of the photos featured a straight-faced Luna with a caption, "Rodney, you have some explaining to do."
'Always the quiet ones'
Before the triplets, Luna and Rodney welcomed Bru. Bru was the first capybara to be born in Scotland in 18 years. McGarry said, "Bru is adjusting to no longer being the centre of attention. He is a little grumpy for now, but we are sure he will be best buds with his siblings once he settles." He added, "Capys might look cute and innocent, but honestly, their lives are like something from a soap opera." He described each capybara's character, saying, "Cali rules the roost, and Luna does as she is told. Bru is the golden child. Rodney is a bit of a shy boy - but he is clearly a hit with the ladies! Like they say, it is always the quiet ones."
Capybara craze
Netizens enjoy watching animal videos, especially funny ones. A 2024 study by Alina Stumpf found that the majority (52.9%) frequently watched informative animal videos, while 41.8% watched funny or entertaining animal content. On another note, Darby, the person behind @capyverse, spoke to Dazed and said, "When I started my account in March 2021, I hadn’t intended for it to be a big social media account."
Now, with more than 75,000 followers, Darby explained, "It just started growing organically – I think that speaks to the growing popularity of capybaras." It made sense why almost 6,000 people liked Rodney's love triangle story. The zoo’s playful framing turned the animals’ breeding dynamics into a soap-opera-style story that clearly resonated online. It also showed how crazy people still are about capybaras in 2026.
'Capydrama'
Netizens found the love triangle between Luna, Rodney, and Cali hilarious. Elisha Woolf asked, "Were they on a break?" Sara Ransom commented, "Rodney got caught. Hope she doesn’t take him back and he has to pay maintenance."
You can follow the Edinburgh Zoo on Facebook for more 'capydrama.'
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