Mystery over partially stuffed crocodile found in pond at golf course

A stuffed crocodile has been discovered in a pond at a busy golf course. The Scottish SPCA have launched an investigation and are appealing for information after the stuffed creature was found in South Lanarkshire.

Scotland’s animal welfare charity attended after a number of concerned passers-by believed they had spotted a reptile in the water at Carnwath Golf Course, near Biggar. Scottish SPCA inspector Heather Lawson collected the 4.5ft long crocodile and took it to the National Museum of Scotland to have it identified.



Inspector Lawson said: "I first thought it was a prank when I received a call saying there had been sightings of a crocodile but when I investigated I found it was real. The crocodile was dead and oddly had tape wrapped around its head. It seems someone has attempted to stuff the crocodile as it had no insides and there was straw stuck in its legs.

"We know it was a West African Dwarf Crocodile and it’s a complete mystery how it got there. However, we don’t know how old it was or how it came to die. These are protected animals and anyone who owns one in this country would need to have a Dangerous Wild Animal license. We are interested in finding out the circumstances and are appealing to anyone with information to contact us." Anyone with information about the crocodile is being urged to contact the Scottish SPCA animal helpline.