Capybaras compete in watermelon speed-eating contest

This capybara called Yotake didn't manage to finish the watermelon and retired after 15 seconds to go and relax in a corner

You might have heard of speed-eating contests for things like hotdogs or burgers, but what about one for watermelon?

It might sound strange, but that's because it's not humans taking part but the largest rodent in the world.

A capybara is an animal that is native to South America, and you can also see them in zoos all over the world too.

In Japan, there was a competition for the capybaras in five different zoos to mark something called Watermelon Day.

The event is now in its 10th year, and it was even livestreamed on social media platforms, so people all around the world could see the contestants in action.

This year the winning capybara was from Saitama Children's Zoo and finished the watermelon in 1 minute 56 seconds.

But it was a close contest, with the second-place capybara taking just two seconds more.

The idea fits with capybaras natural instinct to eat quickly to prevent others from taking their food.

The organisers say that the animals are not forced to eat faster than normal, with the piece of watermelon simply left on the floor for the capybara to munch on when it wants to.

Capybaras eat mostly grasses and aquatic plants, but they also enjoy fruits and berries, with watermelon as a common treat.