Gloucestershire Echo
16th February 2012
ACADEMIC experts have waded into the debate about big cat sightings in the county.
Rural researchers from the University of Gloucestershire say they are determined to uncover new information about the phenomenon.
Curiosity has been sparked in recent weeks by several animal killings in the county and sightings of large feline creatures.
Now the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) has launched a study into the issue and is asking people to help find out the truth.
CCRI Senior Research Fellow Dr Matt Reed said: "As a team of researchers who work a lot in rural communities over the years, we have heard lots of accounts of big beasts spotted in the countryside, carcasses of wild animals or sheep killed in unusual ways and sometimes strange animal calls.
"Now it seems that these accounts have become focused near our base and we have decided to take a closer look."
A survey about the issue has been launched for people to report any big cat sightings.
The academics are experts in Crypto-zoology, the study of animals which appear in myths and legends, but the existence of which have not been proven.
They cite Scotland's Loch Ness Monster and the Abominable Snowman as examples.
Rhiannon Fisher, a lecturer at the Royal Agricultural College and a part-time PhD student in the CCRI, added, "We are not saying that there is or is not a wild cat in the area.
"We are interested in people's opinions about what might be out there, what sort of thing might count as proof and what their thoughts are about it.
"We have prepared a simple, short questionnaire that people can complete online.
"Once we have the results we'll publish them on the CCRI's website."
Yesterday's Echo featured Beverley Jones, who spotted an animal approximately the size of a dog on the A40 near Andoversford.
The study was announced as Gloucestershire big cat expert Frank Tunbridge appeared on Channel 5's Live With Gabby to talk about the sightings.
Speaking from fields in the county, Mr Tunbridge showed his surveillance equipment.
He said: "These animals have bred amongst themselves and produced a hybrid through the generations.
"We now have a population living wild in the county."
Many of the sightings have been around Stroud, but the territory of each beast is thought to be up to 50 miles.
In the past seven years, police have received 61 reports of big cats in the county.
To take the survey visit https://surveys.glos.ac.uk/wildcat
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.
16th February 2012
ACADEMIC experts have waded into the debate about big cat sightings in the county.
Rural researchers from the University of Gloucestershire say they are determined to uncover new information about the phenomenon.
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SIGHTING: Beverley Jones
Now the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) has launched a study into the issue and is asking people to help find out the truth.
CCRI Senior Research Fellow Dr Matt Reed said: "As a team of researchers who work a lot in rural communities over the years, we have heard lots of accounts of big beasts spotted in the countryside, carcasses of wild animals or sheep killed in unusual ways and sometimes strange animal calls.
"Now it seems that these accounts have become focused near our base and we have decided to take a closer look."
A survey about the issue has been launched for people to report any big cat sightings.
The academics are experts in Crypto-zoology, the study of animals which appear in myths and legends, but the existence of which have not been proven.
They cite Scotland's Loch Ness Monster and the Abominable Snowman as examples.
Rhiannon Fisher, a lecturer at the Royal Agricultural College and a part-time PhD student in the CCRI, added, "We are not saying that there is or is not a wild cat in the area.
"We are interested in people's opinions about what might be out there, what sort of thing might count as proof and what their thoughts are about it.
"We have prepared a simple, short questionnaire that people can complete online.
"Once we have the results we'll publish them on the CCRI's website."
Yesterday's Echo featured Beverley Jones, who spotted an animal approximately the size of a dog on the A40 near Andoversford.
The study was announced as Gloucestershire big cat expert Frank Tunbridge appeared on Channel 5's Live With Gabby to talk about the sightings.
Speaking from fields in the county, Mr Tunbridge showed his surveillance equipment.
He said: "These animals have bred amongst themselves and produced a hybrid through the generations.
"We now have a population living wild in the county."
Many of the sightings have been around Stroud, but the territory of each beast is thought to be up to 50 miles.
In the past seven years, police have received 61 reports of big cats in the county.
To take the survey visit https://surveys.glos.ac.uk/wildcat
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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