Cledson Matias de Oliveira was driving through Paraúna, in the Brazilian state of Goias in September on a very hot day when something made him slow down. It was an armadillo.
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A common sight, but this particular armadillo seemed to be flagging the man down as it stood in the middle of the rural road.
“The armadillo stood as if he were asking for something. I believe he was asking for help,” Oliveira told The Dodo. “I immediately stopped the car, without thinking twice.”
It’s worth noting the armadillos have poor eyesight and hearing and rely mostly on smell, so he may not have known he was in the center of the road.
While not many of us would pull over to see what an armadillo needed, Oliveira was drawn to the animal.
(But other compassionate humans should note that armadillos do carry leprosy, so it may not always be the best choice.)
In need of a favor
Because it was such a hot day and wildfires burning nearby had made the air thick with smoke, he thought the little creature might need some water.
First, he took the little guy over to the side of the road. Then, after grabbing some water from his car, he appeared to cool the armadillo off with some of it.
“I believe he understood that I was there to help him,” Oliveira said. “Normally, armadillos do not let human beings get close to them. It was magical and unique.”
As you can see from the video Oliveira posted on Facebook and YouTube, the armadillo was very friendly and even took some sips from the water bottle.
“He drank the water with great desire,” he said. “He was really happy [I stopped]. I could feel it at the moment.”
He sure was thirsty!
Making a friend
Armadillos aren’t really fans of humans, so Oliveira was surprised that the creature stuck close by him. He interpreted that as a sign of trust and gratitude, according to The Dodo.
And while they also reported that he considered taking in the animal until the fires subsided, he made the good decision not to go through with it. It’s not only prohibited, but animals need to be able to survive in the wild, and relying on humans doesn’t help that. (They also need lots of space and are very active at night.)
Nevertheless, Oliveria reports that the whole encounter “…was very pleasant and gratifying.”
He even gave the armadillo a little nose boop before heading off on his way.
Thirsty armadillos
This isn’t the only recent tale of a man stopping for a thirsty armadillo in Brazil.
Just last year, The Daily Mail reported on a video taken by 23-year-old Caio Borges in mid-west Brazil.
Borges saw the animal walking along a dirt track and claimed the creature “talked him into” sharing some water.
“It was a bizarre moment but I believe I experienced telepathic communication with the tiny creature. It was as if he was asking me to help it. He needed food and water. I remembered the water valve and opened it,” Borges said.
He also mentioned how it was an “amazing and memorable feeling” to make a difference to the armadillo’s life.
Like Oliveira, Borges also wanted to take the creature to a safer place with more water, but there simply wasn’t a good space nearby.
You can scroll down below to watch both videos.
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