Circular Firing Squad

Here we see a group of adorable hamster dogs capybaras atΒ Aso Farm Land in Japan. If this was one of those classy PBS nature documentaries, you’d be hearing my jovial voice-over explaining that this odd ritual serves a noble survival purpose, such as watching for predators, or staying warm in the harsh Japan winters. But no. According to park caretakers.Β they’re pooping.

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Via RocketNews24 and sender-inner Laura H.

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42 thoughts on “Circular Firing Squad

  1. Susan June 13, 2016 / 8:54 am

    They do look like they are concentrating.

    • Murray C. June 13, 2016 / 9:44 am

      I wonder how they decide when it’s time for ALL of them to go down to the ol’ poopin’ hole???? That in itself is a marvel.

      • 6rabbits June 13, 2016 / 9:54 am

        Learned from recent reading that capybaras don’t like to be away from the group, they are stressed without another capy nearby. So maybe it’s like when all the females at a restaurant table get up to use the RR at the same time? The circle formation seems an excellent way to give privacy AND watch out for predators!

        • Murray C. June 13, 2016 / 10:07 am

          I think the parallel is spot on! Now I’ll see all these capys with little purses powdering their noses and applying lipstick.?

          • allein June 13, 2016 / 1:15 pm

            I just had to do an image search for capy in lipstick. Alas, I found nothing.

        • Duckie June 13, 2016 / 2:19 pm

          Many moons ago, I was a bridesmaid for my best friend. During the reception, all six bridesmaids, the bride and several of her female family and friends went into the bathroom together. It wasn’t planned; it just happened. We waited until we’d all facilitated, then decided to play a joke on those outside. On cue, we all shouted and left the ladies’ room in a hurry. Everyone was silent as we made our mass exodus, but we acted as if nothing had happened. We went back to our seats laughing and chatting. It was quite a while before another female dared to use the restroom, and we never explained.

          • 6rabbits June 13, 2016 / 3:29 pm

            ?

    • Phred's Mom June 13, 2016 / 10:09 am

      They’ve got that pensive, philosophical
      expression that hoomin moms recognize
      as heralding an imminent diaper change.

      • Murray C. June 13, 2016 / 3:04 pm

        Hee, Hee.

  2. birdcage June 13, 2016 / 9:04 am

    On the capybara front, I’m pleased to report that one of the two escapee “High Park Capybaras” in Toronto has been caught. One down, one to go! I hope they capture the other one soon – there are predators in High Park (coyotes and foxes) and I’d hate for something to happen to this beautiful non-native creature.

    • fkaWaldenPond June 13, 2016 / 12:10 pm

      I saw that this morning! I hope they get either Bonnie or Clyde back soon too. It must be hard out there for a Capy.

      • allein June 13, 2016 / 1:16 pm

        Well, since they don’t like to be alone, maybe the other one will head home soon.

  3. Mariana June 13, 2016 / 9:28 am

    shouldn’t it read Circular Firing Squat??

  4. sfisher89101 June 13, 2016 / 9:34 am

    It’s all about avoiding eye contact…

      • sfisher89101 June 13, 2016 / 9:50 am

        Thanks, NTMTOM! I’ve been lurking. Of course it’s capybara poo that brings folks out of the woodwork…

        • Julie June 14, 2016 / 1:08 am

          BBBWWWAAAHHHH!!!

  5. Murray C. June 13, 2016 / 9:42 am

    I can hear Sir David Attenborough now, in his familiar, awe-struck whisper. What I wouldn’t give to hear him say “poop”.

    • Laura June 13, 2016 / 3:21 pm

      Especially after listening to him giving a reading (reflections on living 90 years, by the author of the Paddington Bear series) \at the Service of Thanksgiving for Her Majesty this past weekend!

      I had NO idea that hamster dogs pooping in a circle would turn out to be so popular. I probably shouldn’t have been so surprised, however, knowing THIS crowd. πŸ˜€

      • Duckie June 13, 2016 / 3:50 pm

        I Googled Attenborough and “poo”, but only got a clip of him watching a sloth “defecate”, as he put it.
        Mike, I just had an idea! An online scavenger hunt! Those of us who want to take part say so, you give us a list of things to find, such as Attenborough saying poo, and we have to post the site where we find it!

        • allein June 13, 2016 / 3:56 pm

          lol, I love that idea!

          Also, you reminded me I have to look for something to send to Mike. I think everyone would love it but I need to find it online (it’s something in my boss’s office that I noticed this morning).

          • Murray C. June 13, 2016 / 10:04 pm

            We wait with bated (baited?) breath.

            • allein June 13, 2016 / 10:14 pm

              Sent it a little while ago. Hopefully it won’t be too slow in getting posted. πŸ˜‰

                • allein June 13, 2016 / 10:49 pm

                  lol…take your time. Think about it for a year… πŸ˜‰

  6. Tater June 13, 2016 / 9:46 am

    Poopybaras!

    • Not That Mike The Other Mike June 13, 2016 / 9:48 am

      Wow, another new commenter today! Welcome! This is going to be an epic thread, I can tell. πŸ˜€

    • Murray C. June 13, 2016 / 10:09 am

      Sounds ominously like Kookaburra – I’m glad these “hamster dogs” don’t live in trees.

  7. Tater June 13, 2016 / 10:10 am

    Thanks for the warm welcome! Another de-lurker here who couldn’t help adding to the capybara cacophony…

    • Sumo-Mermaid June 13, 2016 / 2:06 pm

      Guess I missed that phrase in the article. Where did you see that?

  8. Faye June 13, 2016 / 11:26 am

    As long as they wash their paws.

  9. Raymond June 13, 2016 / 11:56 am

    I like NTMTOM’s Twitter headline even better: “Contestants take their places for the 5K Race for People with No Sense of Direction.”

    • Gigi_the cat lady June 13, 2016 / 12:28 pm

      Oh that reminds me of the Monty Python Twit Olympics




      • Not That Mike The Other Mike June 13, 2016 / 12:34 pm

        Love that Python bit. The “race for people with no sense of direction” headline is Python reference as well.

    • allein June 13, 2016 / 1:18 pm

      I could totally win that…

      • Murray C. June 13, 2016 / 2:51 pm

        You and me both, Allein – and I’ll bet Faye might be in there with us!?

        • Duckie June 13, 2016 / 3:13 pm

          I’ll sponsor you, Faye! ?? ??

          • Faye June 13, 2016 / 9:15 pm

            Oh I am totally the winner of the Twit With No Sense Of Direction Race. I don’t even have to get out of bed to win!!

        • Raymond June 14, 2016 / 11:07 am

          How exciting–a Python race!
          I’d join the wonderful group of you, if I could find the starting line.
          Are there any jobs open in the Ministry of Silly Navigation?

  10. Kar June 13, 2016 / 9:58 pm

    Uh, ok.

    I was thinking that this was the long awaited Live Action Gatchaman movie. Or a bold re-imagining of Sailor Moon.

    Not really thinking scatalogically.

Comments are closed.