Capybara spotted on Essex golf course after escaping farm; has evaded attempts at capture

IT’S like a scene out of Caddyshack — but with an exotic South American rodent instead of a pesky gopher proving difficult to capture on the golf course.

No gopher ... This capybara has been spotted on an Essex golf course a number of times after escaping from an exotic animals farm. Picture: North Weald Golf Club.

IT’S like a scene out of Caddyshack — but with an exotic South American rodent instead of a pesky gopher proving difficult to capture on the golf course.

A group of golfers were shocked to see an exotic capybara wandering around on the green at North Weald Golf Club in Essex, The Telegraph UK reports.

The capybara, which is the world’s largest rodent and is closely related to the gineau pig, is usually found in the grasslands of South America. It can grow to be up to 1.2 metres long.

The group of golfers who spotted it on March 16 at thought first though the usual critter it was a wild boar. They described it as looking “like a cross between a beaver and a bear”.

The capybara has been spotted wandering the golf course a number of times since — but no one has been able to catch it.

The large rodent escaped from local exotic farm Ashlyn’s Farm Shop, which is also home to buffalo, emus and wallabies.

Catch me if you can ... The capybara has managed to escape every time officials try to capture it. Picture: North Weald Golf Club

Ashlyn’s Farm Shop manager Rob Dixon confirmed they are missing a male capybara, but say they have not had much luck recapturing the runaway.

“We keep on trying to catch it, but as soon as we try and catch it, it’s moved on or it jumps in the river and shoots off,” he told The Telegraph.

“Next time we’ve got to get a vet out and try and tranquillise it.”

“They run away from humans, they’re quite shy,” he said. “They’re not like a rat, they’re almost like a big hamster.”

Originally published as Capybara spotted on Essex golf course after escaping farm; has evaded attempts at capture