some funny moments that exist in various parts of the world
Capybaras keep their chill while crashing Brazilian legislature
CUIABA, Brazil (AP) — One Brazilian state legislature has increasingly found its voting sessions invaded by a group of unexpected visitors: capybaras.
The notoriously chill rodents strolled through the front door of the local legislative building in Cuiaba, in the central Brazilian state of Mato Grosso, and surprised lawmakers who were preparing for a vote last week. The building sits next to a park filled with wildlife.
Staffer Nayara Bueno filmed the unexpected visit of the rodents that are native to South America on July 30 and tried to lead the mammals to turn around and head back to the park.
“They show up here quite often, so we’ve gotten used to seeing them,” Bueno said.
Capybaras have surged in global popularity online due to their remarkably calm demeanor and highly social nature. As semi-aquatic animals, they thrive near rivers, lakes and wetlands, often living in groups and growing to weigh up to 80 kilograms (175 pounds).
Their visit caused no damage to the Mato Grosso state legislature.
Rubber ducks by the thousands splash into Chicago River for annual Special Olympics fundraiser
A deluge of 90,000 rubber ducks poured out of a truck and into the Chicago River on Thursday, then bobbed along a stretch of the skyscraper-lined river in the annual Chicago Ducky Derby that raises thousands of dollars for charity.
The truck dumped the ducks from one side of a half-raised bridge. After forming a yellow pool in the river, the ducks floated for around 15 minutes before a winner and runner-up were plucked from the water.
The annual event, a fundraiser for Special Olympics Illinois, draws thousands of participants. At an accompanying festival, participants snapped pictures with inflatable ducks and doodled on a chalkboard under the prompt, “I adopt a duck because …” Some sported rubber duck-printed shirts.
Becky Cavanagh, the Ducky Derby ambassador and a 13-year Special Olympics athlete, held up the winning duck to the cheers of crowds packed on both sides of the river.
Cavanagh said her favorite part about the Special Olympics was “making new friends.” Asked before the race how she felt about picking the winning duck, she cheered. “Woo!”
Special Olympics Illinois organizes competitions across the state for people with disabilities and special needs. It costs $10 to sponsor a “lone duck,” which will feed an athlete lunch at a competition, and $30 for a “quack pack” of six ducks, which supplies gold medals for a team. The competition has raised more than $480,000.
The sponsor of the fastest duck wins an SUV, and the runner-up will win $2,500 in cash, said Pete Beale-DelVecchio, president of Special Olympics Illinois.
“It really is a fantastic day for our athletes,” he said ahead of the race at an area next to the river, where derby attendees posed with inflatable rubber ducks and bopped along to a live DJ.