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Adorable Baby Capybara Is a “Thriller” With Cute Dance to MJ’s Hit

By: Russel Moneva
Russel Moneva, a Viral Content writer at iHeartDogs, finds joy in both crafting engaging content and pursuing his passion for basketball and fitness whenever he's not immersed in his work.Read more
| January 8, 2025

In today’s fast-paced world, where stress and responsibilities often weigh heavily on our minds, finding a moment of lighthearted joy is more important than ever. Sometimes, all we need is a quick break from the chaos to refresh our spirits, and there’s no better way to do that than with an adorable animal video. Recently, the Zoological Wildlife Foundation in Miami delivered just that—a heartwarming clip of a baby capybara engaging in the cutest “dance” moves. This viral moment quickly captured the hearts of viewers, offering a much-needed escape from the daily grind.

Image Credit: Instagram

This tiny capybara was seen trotting around her water feature in an amusing, rhythmic way that instantly reminded viewers of the iconic zombie dance sequence from Michael Jackson’s Thriller. With her little paws moving in perfect timing, her walk looked like she was recreating the famous zombie shuffle from the classic music video. Naturally, the ZWF team couldn’t resist capturing the moment and pairing the clip with Michael Jackson’s legendary track. The result? A viral sensation that had viewers everywhere captivated.

In the video shared by the zoo, the baby capybara strolls confidently around her enclosure, seemingly unaware that her movements perfectly match the beat of Thriller. The Zoological Wildlife Foundation’s playful caption read, “Our natural-born entertainer giving her best [Thriller] dance impression during a morning dip,” adding a touch of fun to the adorable moment. As soon as the video hit social media, it didn’t take long for the world to take notice, with thousands of people sharing and commenting on the viral clip.

Beyond just being a cute video for fans to enjoy, the ZWF had an even bigger mission in mind—naming the little capybara. With her endearing antics on full display, the zoo decided it was time to give their new resident a proper name. In the same social media post featuring her Thriller dance, the ZWF invited their followers to get involved by submitting name suggestions for their new furry friend. The call to action read, “Last chance to drop your name suggestions for our [capybara] beauty in the comments below.”

This wasn’t just an ordinary naming contest either. To make the experience even more special, the Zoological Wildlife Foundation promised one lucky winner a “General Wildlife Experience” at the zoo as a reward for the best name. The post sparked immediate engagement, with animal lovers from all over the world chiming in with creative, heartwarming, and sometimes humorous suggestions.

As it turns out, this baby capybara’s story began on a particularly special day—Christmas Eve. In an earlier post, the ZWF shared that the little capybara arrived at their facility on the night before Christmas, making her an extra special holiday gift for the zoo’s staff and visitors. As the team welcomed her into her new home, she was introduced to a beautiful new habitat designed just for her, complete with a cozy water feature and plenty of space to explore.

To make her first night with the ZWF family memorable, the staff ensured the baby capybara felt right at home, showering her with love and attention. While the zoo was thrilled to have this adorable new addition, there was one challenge they hadn’t solved—what to name her. That’s when they decided to turn to their devoted community of followers for help.

Image Credit: Instagram

As the video of the capybara’s Thriller dance gained momentum, it quickly became apparent that this baby rodent was becoming a social media star. Thousands of viewers from around the globe watched in delight as the tiny capybara strutted her stuff, her movements perfectly synced to the iconic pop song. Commenters couldn’t get enough of her adorable antics, and the video racked up likes, shares, and even more name suggestions as fans eagerly participated in the naming contest.

The Zoological Wildlife Foundation, never one to miss an opportunity to engage with their audience, pulled out all the stops when it came time to reveal the baby capybara’s official name. With the help of none other than The Today Show and the local NBC affiliate, the ZWF made the big announcement in style. The winning name was “Eve,” a heartfelt nod to the capybara’s arrival on Christmas Eve.

In a third post celebrating the occasion, the zoo joyfully shared the news with their followers: “They wanna know, you want to know, and @todayshow and @nbc6 officially shared our viral Thriller dancing capybara superstar today announcing the official name: ‘Eve’ – a nod to her arrival on Christmas Eve.” The name was an instant hit, and the announcement was met with excitement from fans who had been eagerly awaiting the results of the contest.

It wasn’t long before Eve’s story spread beyond the walls of the Zoological Wildlife Foundation. According to the zoo, several major publications picked up on the viral video, featuring the adorable capybara in articles and news segments. From local Miami news outlets to national publications, Eve’s rise to stardom was swift and undeniable.

As Eve’s fame grew, it became clear that the baby capybara had become more than just a resident of the ZWF—she was now an internet sensation. Fans flooded the zoo’s social media pages with comments, expressing their love for Eve and their excitement about her new name. Several people even began following the zoo just to keep up with her adventures. The ZWF team couldn’t have been prouder of their newest star.

In their celebratory post, the zoo couldn’t help but gush about their love for Eve: “There’s a new star on the block, and everyone @zwfmiami couldn’t be more in love with our girl.” The post highlighted the overwhelming attention Eve had received and how proud the team was to have her as part of their animal family.

As Eve settles into life at the Zoological Wildlife Foundation, fans of the adorable capybara can expect to see much more of her in the future. Her viral moment may have begun with a cute dance to Thriller, but Eve is sure to bring even more joy and entertainment to her adoring audience in the months and years to come.

Image Credit: Instagram
She Could Barely Walk or Breathe When Rescuers Found Her
She Could Barely Walk or Breathe When Rescuers Found Her

Rescuers swooped in, but when they got the pup into their care, she had lost the use of her back legs, was struggling to breathe, and weighed just around 20 pounds.

 

For now, Eve is busy exploring her habitat, making new friends, and continuing to win over the hearts of everyone she meets. And while she may have made her social media debut as a baby, it’s clear that this little capybara has a bright future ahead of her. As the zoo continues to share updates on her adventures, Eve’s star will only continue to rise, cementing her place as one of the most beloved animals at the Zoological Wildlife Foundation.

In a world that often feels overwhelming, it’s moments like these that remind us of the pure joy and happiness that animals can bring into our lives. Eve’s Thriller dance was a simple yet powerful reminder that sometimes, the cutest and most unexpected things can brighten even the most stressful of days. And for Eve, her journey as a capybara superstar has only just begun.

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