Meet the adorable animal that looks permanently tired and bored

Time of India

17 hours ago

In the age of internet memes and viral reel trends, animals often find themselves becoming unexpected social media icons. One such animal that's been quietly winning hearts is the viscacha.
It is an innocent-looking, fluffy, sleepy-eyed rodent that seems to embody Gen Z's signature mood of being 'tired, unbothered, and done with everything.'
With their drooping eyelids, slouched posture, and a philosophical stare into the distance, viscachas look like they've had a long day, every day. But beyond the memes, viscachas are interesting creatures with unique adaptations and a crucial role in their ecosystem.
Who are Viscachas?
These cute creatures are often mistaken for rabbits due to their long ears and fluffy tails. Viscachas are actually members of the chinchilla family, and they've recently become viral sensations for their hilariously relatable expressions. With half-closed eyes and a slouched posture, they've been called the unofficial mascot of Gen Z. Some social media users have also said that their faces 'scream exhaustion,' making them perfect for the era of burnout memes and low-key existential crises.
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Where are Visachas found?
They are native to the rocky and grassy regions of South America and are typically found in countries like Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Peru. These animals are known for living on rocks in the sun, often looking like they're deeply lost in life's great mysteries.
There are two main species, mountain viscachas and plains viscachas. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), mountain viscachas prefer the high altitudes of the Andes and are slightly smaller, weighing between 3–5 pounds and measuring up to 20 inches in length.
Plains viscachas, on the other hand, are larger, growing up to 24 inches long and weighing up to 9 pounds. Their fur is coarser, an adaptation to the drier grasslands they call home.
Despite their rugged habitats, viscachas are not aggressive animals. They aren't great at digging, but their rocky homes make them skilled climbers. Their diet consists mostly of grasses, mosses, and lichens, and their digestive systems are finely adapted to squeeze out every bit of nutrition from these tough plant materials.
While mountain viscachas are not currently endangered, their populations are declining in some areas due to human encroachment. More critically, the red viscacha rat, which is also another member of this rodent family, and sadly, it is listed as 'Near Threatened' by the IUCN, largely due to habitat loss from agriculture and livestock grazing.
Photos: Wikimedia commons