Viral video of a rat bathing with soap stuns millions of viewers

HUARAZ CITY, Peru: Rare moment of a rodent seemingly bathing on his feet with soapy liquor in a bathroom sink in Huaraz City in Peru stormed across social media this week.

The viral video, in which a pacarana, a sort of rodent, appears to be lathering soapy foam over his armpits and tummy, has racked up 37 million views in just two days.

Electronic DJ Jose Correa, claims he filmed the video, said he was about to take a shower when he spotted the bizarre scenario on Saturday morning – and couldn’t believe his eyes.

“I care a lot about animals so I wanted to protect his privacy. I would never want to hurt him. So I just filmed him and let him go,” Jose added.

Jose said the massive hype the video received online has got him wonderstruck, adding that he’s been receiving messages from across the world.

Meanwhile, some viewers have also referred the video ‘fake’, in suspicions that the movements seem pretty strange as if the rat may be trying to get rid of the soap.

“A rat wouldn’t do that unless there’s something it really wants to get rid of. I think it’s soapy all over. That’s probably a problem for the rat. It just wants to get rid of the soap”, said Tuomas Aivelo, a researcher in Urban Rat biology at the University of Helsinki in Finland.