KUALA LUMPUR: A ginger cat named Oyen has been officially adopted into a capybara exhibit at a zoo in Malaysia.

The cat has been living with the capybaras for at least two years and has become a draw for many visitors eager to see the inter-species friendship. He started frequenting the Negara Zoo while it was closed for Covid-19, during which there was an influx of people abandoning their cats when they could no longer afford to take care of them.

Since then, Oyen (a Malaysian variation of ‘orange’) has been accompanying the large rodents as they eat and socialize. Last month, Oyen was given his own signage at the exhibit, making him an official member of the capybara herd. His presence at the zoo has reached international attention on TikTok, where the announcement of his new sign has nearly four million likes and has been shared nearly one million times.

Capybaras in the wild typically roam in herds of 10-20 members and are known to be social and docile with other animals, making them ideal roommates for members of other species. It is clear Oyen has been welcomed as one of their own and feels like just another member of the large rat pack.