Belfast Telegraph
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Thursday, 2 February 2012
DNA tests carried out on a deer have offered no evidence of a big cat roaming Gloucestershire
Experts carrying out DNA tests on the carcass of a mutilated deer for evidence of a big cat on the loose have drawn a blank.The only DNA found by extensive tests on remains of the roe deer, discovered by dog walkers on National Trust land near Stroud, Gloucestershire, last month, was that of a fox.
The National Trust asked the University of Warwick to test samples from the deer after examination of the animal raised the possibility that it could have been killed by a big cat, such as a panther or puma.
The injuries to the neck of the deer and the way the carcass had been consumed were thought to be highly indicative of big cat activity.
However forensic tests found no evidence of cat DNA on the carcass discovered near Woodchester Park, or on the remains of a second deer found a few miles away.
Dr Robin Allaby, of the University of Warwick, said: "Other than deer, by far the strongest genetic signal we found on the Woodchester Park carcass was from a fox. That fox DNA was found on the ribs, legs and fur-plucking sites from the Woodchester deer carcass.
"On the second deer carcass, we found canid DNA. A more detailed analysis is under way to pin down the canid species but our expectation is that will also be fox DNA."
Dr Allaby reached his conclusions after taking 45 samples from the wounds of the deer carcasses, testing them for DNA from the saliva of canids, such as dogs or foxes, or cat species which had killed the deer or scavenged from it.
Although tests have turned up no evidence of big cats in Gloucestershire, it is unlikely that speculation about feral cats such as the sandy-grey puma or the black panther roaming the British countryside will disappear.
David Armstrong, head ranger for the National Trust in Gloucestershire, said: "People love a mystery like this and although we haven't found a wild cat, many of our visitors clearly believe there might be something interesting living quietly hidden in Woodchester."
The National Trust asked the University of Warwick to test samples from the deer after examination of the animal raised the possibility that it could have been killed by a big cat, such as a panther or puma.
The injuries to the neck of the deer and the way the carcass had been consumed were thought to be highly indicative of big cat activity.
However forensic tests found no evidence of cat DNA on the carcass discovered near Woodchester Park, or on the remains of a second deer found a few miles away.
Dr Robin Allaby, of the University of Warwick, said: "Other than deer, by far the strongest genetic signal we found on the Woodchester Park carcass was from a fox. That fox DNA was found on the ribs, legs and fur-plucking sites from the Woodchester deer carcass.
"On the second deer carcass, we found canid DNA. A more detailed analysis is under way to pin down the canid species but our expectation is that will also be fox DNA."
Dr Allaby reached his conclusions after taking 45 samples from the wounds of the deer carcasses, testing them for DNA from the saliva of canids, such as dogs or foxes, or cat species which had killed the deer or scavenged from it.
Although tests have turned up no evidence of big cats in Gloucestershire, it is unlikely that speculation about feral cats such as the sandy-grey puma or the black panther roaming the British countryside will disappear.
David Armstrong, head ranger for the National Trust in Gloucestershire, said: "People love a mystery like this and although we haven't found a wild cat, many of our visitors clearly believe there might be something interesting living quietly hidden in Woodchester."
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.
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