The Telegraph 2nd February
A flurry of sightings of big cats emerged after the Dangerous Wild Animals Act of 1976 made it illegal to keep untamed pets. Many owners of exotic cats such as pumas or lynx simply freed their untamed pets into the countryside. Here is a round up sightings:
Derbyshire 2007
A cat walks along a wall in Derbyshire (Big Cat Monitors)
Hazel Grove, Manchester February 2012
Semi-retired businessman Peter Jackson told the Manchester Evening News that he had spotted the ‘mountain lion’ type creature in the back garden of his Longnor Road home.
The 54-year-old was woken by the barking of his pet dog on January 16 and spotted what he described as a ‘large black cat’.
Police later issued a warning saying that anyone seeing it should not approach it. Jean Bruckshaw, 80, of Grendale Avenue, contacted us to say she had seen the cat the day before Mr Jackson.
She said: “At the time I was washing the dishes and looked out of the back window and saw a large black cat prowling in a neighbour’s garden. “
It had a big tail similar to a fox but not a brushy one, and I can say I have never seen such a huge cat before. “My neighbour also said that she had seen it.” Mrs Bruckshaw said she thought the cat made its escape onto a railway embankment behind her street.
Beast of Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, 2009
The wildcat dubbed the Beast of Burnham Thorpe in Norfolk was spotted near the Queen’s Sandringham home.
Experts claim it was a Scottish wildcat, which has been known to attack humans with their razor-sharp claws, or a lynx.
Although others said it looked like a domestic tabby.
This lynx like cat was spotted near the Queen's Sandringham estate
Beast of Banff 2007
A big black panther-like animal has been seen only yards from the edge of Banff.
It was spotted on the prowl in broad daylight above the Links, terrifying a holiday visitor who was out for an afternoon stroll.
And at least one nearby resident has also seen a big cat at close hand.
The creature is described as being five feet long and three feet high. It walked across the path of the man who was staying at the Banff Springs Hotel over the holiday period as he was out for a walk near the hotel on Hogmanay according to the Banffshire Journal.
Helensburgh, Argyle 2009
An off-duty Ministry of Defence police dog handler took a video after spotting a panther-sized big cat.
Pc Chris Swallow told the BBC was helping a friend with their garden in Helensburgh, Argyll, when he spotted the black creature on a nearby railway line.
The officer, who is stationed at the Faslane naval base on the Clyde, said the cat was as big as a Labrador dog.
Big cats have been reported in the area in the past, with several sightings of the so-called Coulport Cougar.
"I've heard stories about creatures like this moving about the countryside, but never really believed them before," he said.
Newtown Crossroads, Herefordshire 2009
A large black cat was filmed prowling across fields in rural Herefordshire in December 2009;
Steve Hall from Hereford contacted the Hereford Times when he managed to to capture video footage of a large black cat resembling a panther crossing farmland near Newtown Crossroads.
Steve was out with his friend Dave Went walking their dogs when they spotted the beast.
“It was just walking across the hedge and then it saw us and sat in the hedge a bit watching.” Steve said.
“I thought I saw one a few years ago but I wasn’t too sure as it was dark, but this footage proves they are local. It was far too big to be a domestic cat.”
There have been numerous sightings of big cats stalking the Herefordshire countryside, but not for many years.
“I go out all the time in the countryside and know the difference between a cat and a dog,” Mr Hall told the Times.
“This was definitely a big cat.”
If you have any news on this item please let us know by leaving a comment or email bcib@btopenworld.com Please report any sightings at http://www.bigcatsinbritain.org/localreportform.htm If you wish to comment on any of the items please click the header of the story.
A flurry of sightings of big cats emerged after the Dangerous Wild Animals Act of 1976 made it illegal to keep untamed pets. Many owners of exotic cats such as pumas or lynx simply freed their untamed pets into the countryside. Here is a round up sightings:
Derbyshire 2007
A large black cat was spotted walking along a dry stone wall that was 3ft high. From working out how large the stones were it was estimated the cat was at least 18 inches high and 3ft long excluding the tail.
It was believed to be a young black leopard.
Experts said it was too large to be a domestic cat but could be a hybrid mix.
A cat walks along a wall in Derbyshire (Big Cat Monitors)Hazel Grove, Manchester February 2012
Semi-retired businessman Peter Jackson told the Manchester Evening News that he had spotted the ‘mountain lion’ type creature in the back garden of his Longnor Road home.
The 54-year-old was woken by the barking of his pet dog on January 16 and spotted what he described as a ‘large black cat’.
Police later issued a warning saying that anyone seeing it should not approach it. Jean Bruckshaw, 80, of Grendale Avenue, contacted us to say she had seen the cat the day before Mr Jackson.
She said: “At the time I was washing the dishes and looked out of the back window and saw a large black cat prowling in a neighbour’s garden. “
It had a big tail similar to a fox but not a brushy one, and I can say I have never seen such a huge cat before. “My neighbour also said that she had seen it.” Mrs Bruckshaw said she thought the cat made its escape onto a railway embankment behind her street.
Beast of Burnham Thorpe, Norfolk, 2009
The wildcat dubbed the Beast of Burnham Thorpe in Norfolk was spotted near the Queen’s Sandringham home.
Experts claim it was a Scottish wildcat, which has been known to attack humans with their razor-sharp claws, or a lynx.
Although others said it looked like a domestic tabby.
This lynx like cat was spotted near the Queen's Sandringham estate
Beast of Banff 2007
A big black panther-like animal has been seen only yards from the edge of Banff.
It was spotted on the prowl in broad daylight above the Links, terrifying a holiday visitor who was out for an afternoon stroll.
And at least one nearby resident has also seen a big cat at close hand.
The creature is described as being five feet long and three feet high. It walked across the path of the man who was staying at the Banff Springs Hotel over the holiday period as he was out for a walk near the hotel on Hogmanay according to the Banffshire Journal.
Helensburgh, Argyle 2009
An off-duty Ministry of Defence police dog handler took a video after spotting a panther-sized big cat.
Pc Chris Swallow told the BBC was helping a friend with their garden in Helensburgh, Argyll, when he spotted the black creature on a nearby railway line.
The officer, who is stationed at the Faslane naval base on the Clyde, said the cat was as big as a Labrador dog.
Big cats have been reported in the area in the past, with several sightings of the so-called Coulport Cougar.
"I've heard stories about creatures like this moving about the countryside, but never really believed them before," he said.
Newtown Crossroads, Herefordshire 2009
A large black cat was filmed prowling across fields in rural Herefordshire in December 2009;
Steve Hall from Hereford contacted the Hereford Times when he managed to to capture video footage of a large black cat resembling a panther crossing farmland near Newtown Crossroads.
Steve was out with his friend Dave Went walking their dogs when they spotted the beast.
“It was just walking across the hedge and then it saw us and sat in the hedge a bit watching.” Steve said.
“I thought I saw one a few years ago but I wasn’t too sure as it was dark, but this footage proves they are local. It was far too big to be a domestic cat.”
There have been numerous sightings of big cats stalking the Herefordshire countryside, but not for many years.
“I go out all the time in the countryside and know the difference between a cat and a dog,” Mr Hall told the Times.
“This was definitely a big cat.”
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