Stroud Life
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
CONSERVATIONISTS and villagers are waiting with bated breath for test results which could confirm big cats are living in the Five Valleys and Severn Vale.
Tomorrow, the National Trust is hoping to release results of DNA tests on two deer carcasses which appeared to have been stripped by a large feline.
The finds near Woodchester Park and Dursley last month sparked a slew of sightings and more carcass finds.
Yesterday, the National Trust which runs Woodchester Park, confirmed it had not received results from two samples of deer which may have been killed by a big cat because they were still being tested by Dr Robin Allaby of Warwick University.
Stroud Life understands that, at this stage, the results of those tests are likely to be inconclusive.
Delays to the announcement indicate Dr Allaby and his team are continuing to try to extract DNA from saliva which may have been left on the carcasses.
Last Thursday, big cat tracker Frank Tunbridge was alerted to another deer carcass in Edge which he believes could have been eaten by a big cat.
"The fur has been plucked, there is a piece of skin that looks like it's been ripped off and its internal organs have been eaten out from the back" said Mr Tunbridge.
He took samples of the deer for DNA testing, although they are not being tested with the earlier deer finds.
The Edge roe deer, found by walker Dave Davies two days before, appeared to have been shot at point blank range through the top of its head.
However, one back leg was also broken and Mr Tunbridge believes it may have been involved in a road collision and put out of its misery with a gun.
Mr Tunbridge said: "It's possible foxes have had a feed on it too but they couldn't eat all that. A big cat could."
And Coopers Edge resident Hayley Huntley heard what Mr Tunbridge believes could have been a puma's shriek.
Her partner Richard Davies was exercising their 14st Alaskan malamute dog Storm when the howling started at 11pm last Thursday night, not far from where the remains of a deer carcass were found last month.
Miss Huntley said: "It was like a roar. I heard it a few weeks ago and it must have been warning Storm off."
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.
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
CONSERVATIONISTS and villagers are waiting with bated breath for test results which could confirm big cats are living in the Five Valleys and Severn Vale.
Tomorrow, the National Trust is hoping to release results of DNA tests on two deer carcasses which appeared to have been stripped by a large feline.
Big cat hunter Frank Tunbridge is ready to respond to sightings
The finds near Woodchester Park and Dursley last month sparked a slew of sightings and more carcass finds.
Yesterday, the National Trust which runs Woodchester Park, confirmed it had not received results from two samples of deer which may have been killed by a big cat because they were still being tested by Dr Robin Allaby of Warwick University.
Stroud Life understands that, at this stage, the results of those tests are likely to be inconclusive.
Delays to the announcement indicate Dr Allaby and his team are continuing to try to extract DNA from saliva which may have been left on the carcasses.
Last Thursday, big cat tracker Frank Tunbridge was alerted to another deer carcass in Edge which he believes could have been eaten by a big cat.
"The fur has been plucked, there is a piece of skin that looks like it's been ripped off and its internal organs have been eaten out from the back" said Mr Tunbridge.
He took samples of the deer for DNA testing, although they are not being tested with the earlier deer finds.
The Edge roe deer, found by walker Dave Davies two days before, appeared to have been shot at point blank range through the top of its head.
However, one back leg was also broken and Mr Tunbridge believes it may have been involved in a road collision and put out of its misery with a gun.
Mr Tunbridge said: "It's possible foxes have had a feed on it too but they couldn't eat all that. A big cat could."
And Coopers Edge resident Hayley Huntley heard what Mr Tunbridge believes could have been a puma's shriek.
Her partner Richard Davies was exercising their 14st Alaskan malamute dog Storm when the howling started at 11pm last Thursday night, not far from where the remains of a deer carcass were found last month.
Miss Huntley said: "It was like a roar. I heard it a few weeks ago and it must have been warning Storm off."
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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