Brazilian Farmer Becomes Viral Sensation On TikTok For Unusual Friendship With Unique Animal

With their gentle and playful nature, capybaras have been known to form close bonds with many kinds of animals, including dogs, turtles, and even some crocodiles! Of course, capybaras are super friendly with humans, too, as demonstrated by Agenor Tupinambá and his capybara, Filó. 

Here’s a snapshot of Agenor and Filó on a typical day of their lives out in the Brazilian countryside. Agenor is a student of agriculture, which means he is constantly working with nature, whether in theory or hands-on. 

Filó and Agenor share a beautiful life together. His life looks fairly idyllic now, but Agenor recalls that things weren’t always so rosy. On his TikTok’s “About Me,” he writes, “I’m from Autazes. I’m 23 years old. I’m very adventurous, a free spirit. I love nature, and I’m gay.”

It all started in 2019 when he shared a few videos of his daily routine online. After that, social media went crazy for his wholesome and adorable shorts with animals, as well as the picture-perfect photos he takes each week with his fuzzy pals. 

Given that he takes care of animals large and small, it makes sense that Agenor would be a gentle, sensitive person. Being such a sensitive soul hasn’t always been so rewarding for him. Like many people with open hearts, he has also been open to the suffering of the world.

It seems that Agenor found an antidote to his troubles in the beauty of the great outdoors. He thought about giving up many times. “Getting here wasn’t easy,” he said. “To all of my anxiety and depression, I found a cure in animals and nature.

When he’s not studying in the city, Agenor he can be found exploring the woods and enjoying the natural beauty of his surroundings. He cherishes his time spent in the countryside but always looks forward to returning home to his farm on the weekends. 

“Nature is so perfect,” he said in a picture with some cute animals and a serene landscape. The 23-year-old believes that people have an obligation and duty towards animals—to love and protect them. And in return, he believes that animals “can awaken love in anyone.” 

On Instagram, Agenor shared what he thinks it takes to gain an animal’s love. “The first step is trust, then respect. [Then you will] captivate them.” Here’s an example of Agenor bonding with a buffalo. 

Agenor usually shares examples of what it feels like to be loved by animals on Tik Tok and Instagram—with adorable results. For example, here he is giving cuddles to a lamb near the river. “It is very satisfying to give love and be rewarded with love in return,” he said.

The capybara’s life always looks cozy on Instagram, where Agenon posts his updates, but Filó didn’t have the easiest start in life, just like her big human friend. Like Agenor, she came upon his happiness after much upset and pain. 

Capybaras are considered the largest living rodent. They look a little like guinea pigs because they are closely related, evolutionarily. They are not legally allowed as pets in the United States, but they are common across South America, often in parks or zoos. 

They may not look like much, but capybaras are highly agile creatures. Additionally, they take to the water quite well—having excellent swimming abilities. They can hold their breath for a whopping five minutes at a time! They’re such good swimmers that they can do it in their sleep—literally!

Agenor takes care of Filó every day. He watches her feed on grass, her natural diet, but he also treats her to milk sometimes. Capybaras also like to eat fruits and even occasionally tree bark. They need to feed continuously because their front teeth never stop growing!

Filó isn’t just clean—she’s dressed to impress! Agenor loves to suit her up and snap cool pictures of her in different outfits. She looks like she enjoyed posing for the shoot, too. She’s feeling patriotic, dressed in Brazil’s national flag and colors.

Many of Agenor’s followers on social media frequently ask how he and Filó came to meet. Agenor explained that his family, his father in particular, always taught him to respect animals and to show them love and care. This conservatory attitude runs in the family.

When the people of the village opened her up, they were surprised to find a baby capybara struggling to get free. At that moment, Filó was born. The people there didn’t take capybaras as pets, so when Agenor’s cousin showed up, they just gave Filó away as a gift. 

Although it may look like it in the photos, Agenor does not keep Filó as a housepet, like a cat, dog, or rabbit. Because he has access to wide and open space, he created a place for her to roam free, graze, and have fun as she grows. 

While he knows that animals and humans can share a connection, he believes in letting animals be as free as possible. Agenor lives in the perfect place to watch over all his animals. According to Agenor, his farm is located in Parana, in the interior of Autazes, near a lake called Araca-Miriam. 

Agenor knows how lucky he is to have a place to retreat, but he also emphasizes being grateful for any natural space. As he said in one of his posts, “I think that every place has its beauty—it has its simplicity—it’s up to people to observe it and know how to see it.”

All things considered, Filó lucked out by finding Agenor. She can enjoy a luxurious life of clean living, good food, and good company for all her days. Agenor’s farm is the perfect place for a capybara to be. She has the safety of the farm and the openness of the wild.

Filó often shares her space with other small animals—large and small. This sometimes includes piglets, and baby pigs can only mean one thing—naps! Filó looks super cozy cuddled up to her small friend, who can’t be more than a few days old. Bless!

One of the best things about keeping in the loop with Agenor and Filó is watching them grow together—especially Filó, who looks like she is growing in size by the hour. While she may get bigger, she’s never too old to hang out with Agenor for play, treats, and cuddles.

It wasn’t just Filó who grew this year. In an interview, Agenor said that he never expected his Tik Tok or Instagram to pick up quite like it did. He said he simply posted about everyday stuff—the work he does on the farm, his walks, and his nap times. 

Their unexpected popularity on social media came as a bolt from the blue. Agenor started posting about his life back in 2019. He just shared the happenings of his daily life. Something about Agenor and his connection to Filó, the other animals, and nature just appealed to people.