Garopaba (Brazil) - What a funny sight: In a viral TikTok video, an animal swims in a lake that you wouldn't necessarily expect - at least the clip now has more than six million clicks. This is probably also due to the fact that the swimming movements look more like desperate attempts to somehow survive above water.

The photo was taken last year in an untouched forest area in Garopaba, Brazil. Ju Vilanova and her boyfriend regularly venture there.

Yet many people would only want to encounter some of the animals that live here in a safe zoo environment. Snakes, spiders and lizards are among the animals to be found there.

Nevertheless, in an interview with The Dodo this week, Vilanova enthused: "It's a magical place [...], lots of nature, trails, waterfalls and animals of all kinds."

She and her partner were on their way to a waterfall when they came across a tarantula. "We were enchanted by its size and beauty," said Vilanova.

But then the animal suddenly went into the water.

In the video, the eight-legged player's movements look as if he is trying to save himself from drowning. But Vilanova's perception of the situation was completely different.

"We were amazed at how fast it was. It's surreal to describe! It was really beautiful." The tarantula swam to the other side and then climbed up a rock, said the Brazilian.

She herself had not known that spiders could swim in this way, the nature lover explained to the animal magazine.

"I felt like a happy seven-year-old child. The connection with the animals here is very strong, like living a dream. It's always full of surprises," says Vilanova.

Many TikTok users can also marvel at the curious clip, which has received more than 650,000 likes in recent weeks.