India, April 13 -- In the heart of St Augustine, Florida, the oldest city in the US, animal lovers are flocking to a surprisingly cosy destination: The Capybara Cafe. Tucked behind a real estate office, this one-of-a-kind attraction has become a haven for those hoping to bond with capybaras, the internet's latest obsession in cuddly creatures.

Opened late last year by Stephanie Angel, The Capybara Cafe offers visitors the chance to spend quality time with the world's largest rodents, creatures more often associated with South American wetlands than American laps. "You give them lots of scratches and love," Angel said. "A lot of times they'll climb on your lap because they're very used to people, and if you're really good at giving scratc...