An unusual scene caught attention on social media this week: two capybaras – also known as carpinchos – were spotted trying to walk on the frozen surface of a lagoon in Esteros del Iberá, in the province of Corrientes, northeastern Argentina.
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The video, shared by the Argentine Committee of APECS (Association of Polar Early Career Scientists), shows the animals visibly disoriented, slipping, and struggling to keep their balance on the thin layer of ice formed after days of below-freezing temperatures caused by an intense polar front hitting the country.
Experts highlight that phenomena like this are rare in the region, traditionally marked by a subtropical climate. The footage quickly went viral and drew attention to the extreme effects of the weather even in usually warmer areas of the southern hemisphere.
Despite the scare, the animals managed to move slowly and showed no injuries, according to local biologists.
Source and images: Comité Argentino de APECS | Asociación de Investigadores Polares en Carrera Temprana – Association of Polar Early Career Scientists | X @APECSArgentina. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
