Jogger Stopped in His Tracks by 2ft Beast
By Nick Ward
IT'S the largest rodent in the world – and it might be lurking in the
trees near you.
Jogger Peter Oldale was out on his daily run through High Storrs,
Sheffield, when he came face to face with a rat-like creature as big
as a dog.
The stunned semi-retired building estimator from Edale Road was
stopped in his tracks by the unusual 2ft beast which paused for a few
moments before turning tail and scurrying off.
The incident, as Peter jogged towards Bents Green through the trees
along the boggy part of High Storrs Roughs near Trap Lane, left him
consumed with curiosity.
Back home the 66-year-old from Edale Road, Greystones, hit the
internet to try and find an explanation for what he had seen – and
found the image of the creature staring back at him.
What do you think. Have you seen the strange creature? Add your
comment below.
He said: "It was a capybara – the animal on the screen looked exactly
the same as the one I saw.
"It was about two feet long and stood about 16 inches high. It looked
a bit like an overgrown guinea pig.
"I've been running along those roughs for more than 30 years and I
have seen all sorts up there – but never anything like this.
"I wonder if anyone else has seen it?"
Sheffield Museums' Senior Curator of Natural History Paul Richards is
the man who records instances of strange creatures which are spotted
around the city.
Paul told The Star this was the first time it had been reported to him
that there may be a capybara on the loose
He said: "A capybara is not a component of our native fauna. They are
usually found in South American forests or grasslands near to water.
"It is a timid, semi-aquatic creature which feeds on aquatic plants so
it is unlikely to have been a capybara.
"It could have been a muntjac deer, which is very similar looking
though none of those have been sighted around Sheffield before.However
I cannot rule out that it might just be a capybara that has escaped
from somewhere."
The Star, Sheffield: 9th April 2008
