A Buenos Aires plaza transformed into a makeshift wilderness for an unusual group of teenagers on a recent Sunday, according to attendees. It was the latest gathering of 'therians,' individuals who say they identify mentally, spiritually or psychologically with non-human animals. Aguara, 15 years old, leapt through the air, clearing an obstacle course while imitating the precise movements of a Belgian breed dog.
Aguara claims to identify as a Belgian Malinois and counts her age as the equivalent of two years and two months in dog years. Aguara says she's a lot like any other teenager. 'I wake up like a normal person and live my life like a normal person.
I wake up like a normal person and live my life like a normal person. I simply have moments when I like being a dog.
I simply have moments when I like being a dog,' Aguara said. Aguara is the leader of what she calls her 'pack' and boasts more than 125,000 followers on TikTok, coordinating regular meetups around the Argentine capital. Aru, a 16-year-old, wore a seal mask to the park meetup.
'It's not necessarily about identifying as an animal,' Aru said. Aru said she considers herself part of the 'otherpaw' branch of therians: individuals who wear masks and tails or move on all fours just for fun. Aru reckons the therian trend took off in Argentina because of the country's 'fairly free' environment.
It's not necessarily about identifying as an animal.
For other young Argentines, the movement has provided a vital community where they can feel truly accepted. The trend has taken over Argentine social media over the past few months, gaining traction on platforms like TikTok. The hashtag #therian has surpassed 2 million posts on TikTok, with Argentina leading all other Latin American countries in engagement.
The surge has drawn the attention of influencers and media outlets alike, sparking reactions that range from laughter and bewilderment to outright anger. As the movement gains traction, psychologists are stepping in to analyze the phenomenon and its place in public discourse. Débora Pedace, a psychologist and director of the Integral Therapeutic Center in Buenos Aires, acknowledged that the phenomenon generates a complex mix of confusion, laughter and even anger.
'From a psychological standpoint, this is a symbolic identification with an animal,' Pedace said. ' The specific psychological criteria defining when therian identification becomes pathological remain unclear. How widespread the movement is among teenagers in Argentina beyond social media is also unknown.