News

Kirst D'Raven

I would like to welcome Kirst D'Raven to Big Cat Monitors. Kirst will bring with her many years of valuable experience of investigation in many different areas using scientific principles.
We will both represent Big Cat Monitors, working closely with the media.

Did a big cat kill couple's pet dog?

In April this year, a dog was attacked and killed at the home of a Cambridgeshire couple. The couple rushed their dog to the vets along with their other greyhound, which who also suffered nasty wounds. The vet told them that she had never seen anything like it before and that no other dog could have done this.
Something had grabbed the dog by its neck, which may have been broken, and a huge chunk of flesh was missing. There were also marks on her hind legs and stomach.
The vet put forward a theory that a big cat could have done this but not a dog. She was also convinced that the owners other dogs had not attacked the animal.

Later that day police officers attended the scene. They told the couple that their other pet dogs had killed the greyhound. This was from information given by the vet who had previously told the owners that a big cat had killed the dog.

Unfortunately, no DNA was taken from the dog and no pictures were taken by the vet. This may have revealed clues as to what had made the attack.

Since the dog has now been buried and that no post mortem was conducted, combined with the unwillingness of the veterinary practice to answer any questions concerning the incident, makes the question of whether a big cat killed the dog remain unanswered.

Big cat fears stalk Donegal countryside 

BBC News 18/3/08
 
There are fears that a big cat is stalking the fields of County Donegal after the discovery of paw prints, droppings and a dead sheep.
A photograph has also been taken which may show such a creature in the Manorcunningham area.

It is thought that the animal could be either a black leopard or jaguar.

There have been meetings involving the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Garda and an action plan has been put in place in case of further sightings.

Kevin McGinley from the ISPCA said there had been a number of sightings since 14 February when a farmer from the Letterkenny area contacted the society about a sheep kill on his property.

"I had a look at this particular kill and it concerned me enough to remove a hair and faecal samples which have been sent away to a labroratory in County Kildare for an in-depth analysis," Mr McGinley said.

"I believe it certainly wasn't killed by domestic dogs which did alarm me.

"So I thought the most sensible and prudent thing to do would be to remove any hair and faecal samples found around the kill area and send them away for a full investigation."

Keith Roulston from the Irish Farmers' Asscoation said farmers should be concerned but not alarmed by the sightings.

"I think the message needs to go out there to people to keep watching and if they see anything unusual to report it to the relevant authorities and not to be trying to take it into their own hands," he said.

"We'd be urging people just to be concerned and to be vigilant."

In 2003, the USPCA said it believed two big cats were roaming the north Antrim countryside.

It said a black panther was living near the village of Ballybogey, outside Portrush, and a brown coloured puma was roaming the hills near Ballycastle.

Freedom of Information Request

On the 13th November 2007, I submitted a F.O.I request to the M.O.D asking about information regarding the big cat that was knocked down and killed out side RAF Fylingdales.

Below is their long awaited response:

I am writing in response to your email dated 13 November 2007. You requested whether the MOD have any information on the removal of the body of a big cat in June 2004 near RAF Fylingdales.

Unfortunately, following a search of station records and having checked with the MOD police, I can confirm that we have found no information on the question you asked.

I paid a visit to RAF Fylingdales a few weeks after the incident. The MOD police at the gatehouse told me that it was a bus that had knocked down the cat. How do they know this if they were not involved?

Another cover-up? (editor)

F.O.I request 8/11/07

I have submitted a freedom of information request to the M.O.D. I requested information on whether any RAF aircraft were used in the search for a tiger close to RAF Church Fenton in June 2006. I also asked which aircraft were used and which base sent them and were any big cats found.

Here is a snippet from the original BBC report:

Police alert over 'tiger' reports
BBC News 23/6/06

Villagers and farmers have been put on alert amid reports of a tiger on the loose in North Yorkshire.
Police and an RAF aircraft conducted a search of countryside near Tadcaster after three sightings in the last week.

I submitted the request as I have received a reliable tip-off that an Apache helicopter was used for the search.
Here is some technical information on the Apache:

The AH-64 Apache is the United States Army's principal attack helicopter, and is the successor to the AH-1 Cobra. The AH-64 is powered by two General Electric T700 turboshaft engines. The crew sits in tandem, with the pilot sitting behind and above the copilot-gunner in an armored crew compartment. The AH-64 is armed with a 30mm M230 chain gun.

Here is the Freedom of Information request response:

‘Unfortunately, no information is held by the RAF on the questions you asked.’

I smell a cover-up. Was the Apache going to be used to shoot the tiger with its 30mm chain gun? (editor)

Pilot spots panther

A pilot from Ryan Air has reported to me that he witnessed a large black panther type animal on his way home from Stansted airport. The sighting took place on 17/7/07 at 00:15 on Butler’s lane between Saffron Walden and Ashdon, Essex.

Here is what the pilot a Mr Mike Skillings had to say: ‘I was returning home from work, and was driving at only reasonable speed(approx 45 mph).But was approaching a 90 degree rt-hand bend so was slowing significantly. I saw the animal jump into the lane ahead, and my mind 'sized it' as a large Muntjac deer or a small Fallow deer (which we see regularly in this area).As it turned towards me I recognised it as a dark cat. It was only as my headlights were leaving it that I put the initial
size estimate together with the positive cat sighting.’
He further added that the cat was black and the eyes were large and exceptionally bright, reflective jade-green.

Another interesting point made by Mr Skillings is that the sighting took place very close to a disused rail way line. During my research I have found that most sightings take place near such lines. The cats seem to use them to get from place to place.

He added that the cat Jumped on to the lane from left hand hedge, crossed the lane, and then stopped and turned to look directly at his car.

Most sightings of big cats turn out to be misidentifications of domestic cats and dogs seen at a distance but from the calibre of the witness I would have to say that this is a genuine sighting of a black panther.

The big cat’s everywhere
The Press
15/7/07

The 'Big Cat' mystery gathered pace this week, with more reports of sightings – assuring the cyclist at the centre of last week’s story that he certainly wasn't seeing things.

One family found themselves staring into the shiny eyes of a large black animal near a Cleckheaton playing field. A Ravensthorpe woman says she is sure it is a big cat which keeps digging deep holes in her garden.

And a Mirfield man says he saw a big black cat while out shooting.

Last week a cyclist was shocked to come face to face with a 'panther' on the Spen Valley Greenway at Dewsbury Moor. The 38-year-old admitted to being scared and proceeded to get the hell out of there.

But the sighting near chemical works at Heckmondwike Road supports a similar report.

Joyce Allatt of Ravenshouse Road has been mystified by happenings at the semi-wild end of her back garden."Something big is coming in there," she said. "It digs holes and climbs a tree. Clumps of leaves and such keep coming down. I keep filling up the holes but the next day they are scrabbled out again."

"I have lived here for more than 50 years and nothing like this has ever happened before," she said. "It doesn’t scare me though." She has found mangled takeaway cartons inexplicably left there.

Days before our story last week, a housewife in Church Lane, Dewsbury Moor, thought she was seeing things after spotting a large black cat near bushes in the grounds of Westmoor School.

"I couldn't believe my eyes," she said. "I thought people would think I was mad, and then I read the story in The Press."

At Cleckheaton, Debbie Ross, her husband, Stuart, and their daughter Kersha, 13, encountered the beast as they walked their three rottweilers on Friday evening.

The family left their Hill Street home and went by a large field behind Whitcliffe Mount School.

"My husband suddenly told us to stand still," said Debbie. "This animal was there - as big as one of our dogs.

"It was pure black with shiny eyes. We were about 80 metres away. It was much bigger than an ordinary cat, a hell of a lot bigger, and was just sitting on the path. Its ears were very pointed and its tail was huge."

"We got within 50 metres and it casually walked off into some bushes," said Debbie. "Stuart heard it growling."

The family then saw our reports and, concerned the sighting had been near a playground, reported it to a big cat website which monitors sightings.

A Mirfield man - who would not be named - said he saw something last autumn while out shooting near the rail station at Mirfield.

"As I shone my light I saw a rabbit and a dark shadow," he said. "I walked off but heard it following me and growling. I was within 10 to 15 yards of it.

"There was no doubt it was a big cat. It was black and had a very muscular, wide head. Certainly not a domestic pet.

"I had never seen anything like this and I was very scared. I was 10 minutes from my car and alone."

Rosealene Ballan from the Spen Valley area said: "My husband also saw the cat. He was crossing the bridge on the footpath across Spen Beck heading towards Spenborough sewage treatment works and Ponderosa.

"What he saw was black and it padded across the footpath and went under a gap in a fence. There was a print there, much too big for a domestic animal.

"Our cross-Staffie stood still and the hairs on her back stood on end.

"Our dog would have approached a dog and chased a moggie. Since then he’s found what looked to be a young badger chewed and stripped to the bone opposite the Ponderosa cafe."

Paul Westwood of the Big Cats Monitor said: "Most of the sightings have been near old rail lines and this is just the sort of territory big cats use. It certainly adds weight to the reports.

"Ravenshouse Road is just such an area, close to a dismantled line. The cats use these to get from place to place."

Mr Westwood collates information and if there seems to be substance investigates to gather evidence as to whether the sightings are feasible.

Is there a mystery beast lurking on our greenway?
Spenborough Guardian
18/6/07

By Adam Wolstenholme

A BIG cat the size of a rottweiller dog has been seen roaming in Cleckheaton.
A family out walking their three dogs saw the animal – which had pointed ears and a long tail – on a pathway in some woodland behind Whitcliffe Mount School.

Debbie Ross made the shocking discovery when she was out walking with her husband, Stuart, and daughter, Kersha Bowness last Friday.

Debbie, 36, of Hill Street, Cleckheaton, said: "We were walking our dogs through West End Park. Behind Whitcliffe Mount School there's a dirt track and that's where we saw a huge black cat sitting in the pathway. It was as big as one of our rottweillers.

"It looked very relaxed. It looked at us as if to say, 'What are you looking at?'

"It was pure black, with a very long tail, bright eyes and pointed ears."

The family put their dogs on leads and walked towards it.

"We were about 80ft from it when it casually walked off into a bush. As we were passing we heard a growl," said Debbie.

"It was quite an experience. Stuart was a bit nervous but I thought it was funny. I wasn't scared because we had the dogs with us. But we had to keep them under control. If they'd chased and caught the cat it wouldn't have been very nice!

"Stuart went back up there on Sunday night but couldn't see it."

Debbie, a home care assistant, reported the sighting to the website Big Cat Monitors.

Paul Westwood, of Pontefract, runs the site. He said: "I take a keen interest in these sightings. In my opinion 90 per cent of people who say they saw these things are mistaken. But this case seems plausible because all three of them saw it.

"I've been running the website since 2003 and since then there have been half a dozen sightings in Huddersfield alone."

The sighting in Cleckheaton follows similar reports last week of a big cat on the Spen Valley Greenway near the Rohm and Haas chemical works off Heckmondwike Road, Dewsbury Moor.

A cyclist spotted the animal – which he described as similar to a panther – on his way to work. He said it was the size of a labrador.

Is this a young puma?

Click on the link below to see this mobile phone footage which captured what appears to be a young puma at Gourock, Scotland.

Gourock puma

Police officers report big black cat sightings in rural Leicestershire
Farmers Weekly
30/04/2007

Three police officers have reported seeing a black panther in rural Leicestershire.

Off-duty Pc Mick Kaiser was jogging along a disused railway line near Shepshed, when he spotted a large black cat 25 metres ahead of him on the track.

Pc Kaiser described the cat as “over four feet long and two-foot-plus high with a long tail.

“I was a bit worried and took an unplanned diversion to the left. But the cat didn’t look at all concerned about me.”

Four days later, traffic officers Pc Darren Elsom and Pc Louise Raven saw what they think was the same cat further down the disused railway line.

This time it was at Ellistown four miles away from the first sighting.

The cat seen by the two other officers during a morning patrol was, they said, bigger than a large Alsatian.

“It was 300 metres away,” said Pc Elsom.

“But it was silhouetted against the skyline. There was no mistaking what it was.

“Eventually it ran off, gradually getting faster and faster. You could tell it was fairly powerful.”

Black panther expert, David Spencer, said: “These sound like very good sightings  very credible and impartial witnesses of what appears to be a panther.

“Big cats stick to railway lines because they’re isolated and they can hide in the tunnels. This is further evidence that the cats are out there.

“It’s very hard to question this sort of evidence”

The sightings follow several fatal and bloody attacks on sheep in the area.

‘Big cat’ sparks police operation

19 April 2007

Herts24

Now cabbie spots the Beast
Wiltshire Times 19/04/07
Exclusive By Benjamin Parkes

THE Beast of Biddestone is back, and this time the suspected black panther has been spotted 10 miles away in South Wraxall.

Taxi driver Nigel Davis, of Woods Lane, Chippenham, had a late night encounter with the predator on his way home from a job on Sunday.

As he turned on to the B3109 and headed up the road towards Cat's Hill the 42-year-old spotted the big cat under a sign for South Wraxall.

It was 3.30am and his car headlights took the creature by surprise and it froze as it was illuminated.

Mr Davis, who is married with two children, said: "I was scared witless. It was just crouching there, by the side of the road, looking directly at me. It frightened the life out of me.

"I looked into its eyes and couldn't believe what I was seeing. It looked like it was going to pounce."

Desperately scrabbling for his phone, Mr Davis went back round the roundabout to see if he could get another look at it and maybe take a photo, but the beast had gone.

He said: "I've seen nothing like it. It was really long. I scoffed when I saw the report about the previous sighting and thought it was a load of rubbish.

"The first person I told when I saw it was my boss. Now all my colleagues and friends are laughing at me, telling me to watch out for the Beast of Biddestone.

"I don't care though. I know what I saw and it was no pussycat. I hope someone else sees it because it is definitely out there."

The sighting comes weeks after a group of off-duty police officers spotted the beast in Biddestone on Easter Sunday.

Off duty police spot big cat
10/4/07

By Wiltshire Times Reporter
TWO police and a civilian officer were shocked to see a big black cat run across fields in broad daylight on easter Sunday.
The policemen and their families were stunned after spotting the animal near Hartham Park, Corsham and were left in no doubt that this was indeed a 'big cat'.
The officers were off-duty and walking with their families after lunch when they saw the Panther-like creature running at speed across a field some distance away.
One of the officer's wives, who works for the police in a civilian capacity, said they had no idea it was posisble for big cats to live in the countryside, having recently moved from Bristol.
The sighting took place at around 3.30pm between Weaven Lane, Biddestone and Hartham Park, the stately home that is now a high-tech business park.
The woman, who does not want to be named, added: "We were pointing out Hartham Park to our friends when my husband said 'what's that animal there?' He's got incredible eyesight, but then we all saw it too. It was three fields away and we could see it clearly. It was big, black and running very very fast.
"It was the size of our German Shephered dog but longer. But it didn't run like a dog at all, it was much smoother and ran lower to the ground.
"It was jet black and we watched it for as long as 20 seconds.
"We all scoffed at first at the idea it was a big cat, but quickly realised that was what we were watching. It was so fast and ran so distinctively. We were all left shocked."

West Yorkshire Police Air Support Unit asked about big cats.

The Air Support Unit belonging to the third biggest UK police force has been asked through a Freedom of Information Request if they have ever seen any unusual animals including big cats.
They said that to their knowledge nothing of that nature has been seen on camera or reported by any aircrew. In fact they have never been asked to search for any such animals.
This raises questions on how many big cats are roaming the UK. The Air Support Unit has the best opportunity to spot such animals but to date nothing has been seen by this force.

South Yorkshire Police Air Support Unit Contacted

I have submitted a Freedom of Information Request to South Yorkshire Police asking if their Air Support Unit has ever seen any animals which resemble a big cat like a Leopard or Puma whilst flying operationally.

This is their reply:

'Your request has been considered by the Air Support Unit but they report that they have not witnessed any animals of the type you describe'.

Humberside Police Air Support Unit Contacted

I have submitted a Freedom of Information Request to Humberside Police asking if their Air Support Unit has ever seen any animals which resemble a big cat like a Leopard or Puma whilst flying operationally.

This is their reply:

‘Dear Mr Westwood,

Further to your letter of 16th January 2007 with regards to large cat like animals.

I can confirm that our crew have not seen any such animals’.

Air Support Unit contacted under Freedom of Information

I recently wrote to North Yorkshire Police and asked them these questions.
‘I would like to ask the Helicopter Support Unit if they have ever seen any animals which resemble a big cat like a Leopard or Puma whilst flying operationally.
If they have seen any such animals, has the evidence been backed up by video footage?
And if such footage exists would it be possible to view it?’
This was done through a Freedom of Information request.
This is their reply:
‘North Yorkshire Police do not have an Air Support Unit, assistance may be given by neighbouring forces if an incident requires air support. North Yorkshire Police have no recorded information of other forces Air Support Units having sighted any animals which resemble a big cat like a Leopard or Puma.’
This is the second police force that I have asked these questions. Watch this space. (editor).

Big cat suspected of killing deer 
BBC News 26/12/06
The discovery of a savaged deer in the Forest of Dean has led to renewed fears that a big cat may be roaming the area.
Brian Jones found the animal's carcass and scattered body parts, while walking his dog in woods near his home in Ruspidge on Christmas Day.

He said the bones had been stripped of flesh and the blood was bright red, suggesting it was a recent kill.

"There have been stories of a big cat in the area and I've never believed them until now," he said.

"It must have been a big cat, nothing else could've done that," he added.

Police Officer confronted by growling big cat
Aberdeenshire 26/11/06

I received a report from a police officer who was searching farm out buildings at night for a cow that had escaped onto the road. He was making sure that it was secure and would not escape again. When he was searching in a courtyard he heard a very distinctive growling, he shone his torch to where the noise was coming from and saw two eyes glowing in the dark. Initially he thought it was a dog, when a large big cat emerged from the gloom instead. He hastily made his retreat back to the patrol car and made a report.

West Mercia Police Press Release
Big Cat Sighted

A Telford based Police Officer has reported sighting a large black cat.

The sighting was reported at 3.15am on the morning of Friday 24th November whilst the officer was near to The White Horse public house, Finger Road, Dawley.

The officer describes observing a very large black cat that crossed the road and disappeared into the grounds at the rear of the pub. The animal was described as being of bonnet height and with a long tail.

Other patrols responded to this report but nothing tangible was found to corroborate the sighting.

This is the third reported incident of what is described as a large cat-like animal since 18.11.06.  The last being on 21.11.06 when two Telford Town Park rangers reported that they had seen a large black cat.  The location of the current report is very close to the Town Park.

Pc Pete Simmonds of Telford Police states, "Sightings are rare and appear to come in clutches, thus giving the impression that large black cats, or Puma's, are in large numbers and amongst us. There are many web sites dedicated to such reports and as such we can only echo the advice given should you have such an encounter". "Animals will avoid contact with humans and generally flee. Never approach one, stay calm and back away slowly, don't run". "I believe Nationally there has never been an actual encounter with such an animal in the many years that they have been sighted".

Officers at Malinsgate Police station have been told to be vigilant when patrolling the area.

Pc Simmonds further added, "These sightings are occurring in public spaces and so we are liasing and sharing these reports with staff from the Telford & Wrekin Landscape and recreation department".

A Telford & Wrekin Council spokesman added: “We would ask anyone in the town park to be aware of this and should they see anything to report this to the Park Ranger Service based at Spout Farm House on 01952 290240 (382340 from Dec 1).”

Tiger seen again!!
15/10/06

A mother and son witnessed a tiger whilst they were travelling in a car east bound on the M62 between Junctions 36 and 37. The son told me that he and his mother were on their way to a car boot sale at Whitley Bridge at J34 on the M62. He explained to me that they had missed the turn off and carried on to the next junction to turn around. This is when they both spotted a tiger in the fields between Junctions 36 and 37.
I have done an area search but found nothing.
If anyone sees the animal, contact the police and myself immediately.

Could it be the same animal spotted in June this year near Church Fenton, North Yorkshire?

Air search after 'big cat' report 
BBC News 24/10/06
 
Police are carrying out aerial searches of a park following a number of sightings of a big black cat.
Essex Police said people had reported seeing the animal in Weald Country Park, in Brentwood, and described it as being the size of a puma.

A police spokeswoman urged people to report any sightings and not to approach the animal. Pet owners were asked to keep their animals inside.

Wildlife parks in the area are being contacted to check their animals.

The spokeswoman said there was also an isolated report that a deer had been killed by the cat, which officers were investigating on Tuesday.

Police alert over 'tiger' reports
BBC News 23/6/06

Villagers and farmers have been put on alert amid reports of a tiger on the loose in North Yorkshire.

Police and an RAF aircraft conducted a search of countryside near Tadcaster after three sightings in the last week.

Officers have consulted a wildlife expert, who fears the animal may be a cub bought illegally and then released.

Paul Westwood, of Big Cat Monitors, said: "If it is a tiger, when it gets hungry it's going to go for anything that moves. It will be very dangerous."

North Yorkshire Police said they had alerted local farmers and asked them to report any suspicious livestock deaths.

A force spokesman said: "We would stress that we have no solid evidence that this is a tiger but we advise the public to be vigilant and to report any sightings to us immediately."

Mr Westwood has spoken to the woman who reported the first sighting as she drove to work on the road between Ryther and Ulleskelf last Friday morning.

"She described what she saw in bright sunshine from 50 to 100 yards away.

"She said it was waist high, about six feet long with an orange coat and thick black stripes."

He said that description would match a 12-month-old tiger cub.

"I showed her some photographs of different cats and she picked out the tiger," said Mr Westwood.

"She was a very level-headed woman who runs her own business and she insisted that was the animal she had seen."

Further sightings

Insp Steve Ratcliffe, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "We deployed some units to make a search of the area and we also contacted RAF Linton-on-Ouse who had a plane in the area which agreed to make a search.

"Unfortunately we were unable to confirm this sighting or locate the tiger."

Later that day, police said another woman reported seeing a big cat in a lane at Church Fenton - about two miles from the first sighting.

The latest sighting came on Thursday night from a motorist who said he had spotted an "orange-coloured" animal crossing the A1 near its junction with the A64 - just a few miles away.

Man to keep leopards in back garden

May 30 2006
Exclusiveby Richard Porritt
Ic south London.co.uk


A BIG-CAT fanatic has won a battle to keep leopards in his garden.

Todd Dalton - dubbed the Leopard Man of Peckham - has spent £25,000 hauling Southwark council through the courts.

And now he has overturned a previous ruling banning him from keeping the beasts.

Dalton had his plans to keep leopards thrown out by councillors in March after his neighbours said they feared the animals would savage their kids. But in a landmark court ruling a court has overturned the initial order and given Todd the go-ahead to keep the beasts.

After the hearing at Tower Bridge Magistrates' Court, Todd told the South London Press he was "delighted" but the action had left him broke.

"This appeal has cost me £25,000 and I am not applying for costs because I do not think the taxpayer should have to pay,"said the internet entrepreneur.

"Because of the costs I have had to take my business's website down and stop trading for the time being.

"This has cost me thousands. Southwark council has cost me a lot of money and wasted a lot of time."

Todd, who has already built the 100ft x 20ft, 12ft-high cages that are needed to keep the wild animals in his garden, applied for permission from the council in February. But councillors refused to let him keep the cats even though his plans had been given the thumbs up by police and vets and complied with the Dangerous Wild Animals Act.

Todd plans to take delivery of the leopards - which can grow up to 6ft long - and two lemurs in the next year. And he is confident the leopards, who are renowned hunters in the wild and usually attack from above, are perfect-ly safe. The animals will live in the back garden of his £625,000 home on one of Peckham's most exclusive streets.

"I know some of my neighbours are worried about having the animals next door to them,"he said.

"I understand and respect their fears but they really have nothing to worry about.

"The animals will not escape. These are my pets. Some people have cats and dogs. My passion is these animals.

"I have been involved with wild animals for a long time - since I was a child. I am comfortable with them and I know how to look after them."

Southwark council chiefs reacted to the judge's decision with dismay. They claim the Leopard-Man will have to apply for further planning permission - a point he disputes.

A council spokesman said: "We are disappointed the court took the decision to allow this licence, which after careful consideration was turned down by the council's licensing sub-committee.

"It is also disappointing the law does not allow residents' views to be taken into account when considering this type of licence and we will be seeking a review of this legislation.

"However, we have sought legal advice which suggests that Mr Dalton will still need to apply to the council for planning permission for a change of use to his premises and residents can and will be consulted about this"

Panther seen at close quarters

On the evening of Monday 22/5/06 at 2205 I received a phone call from North Yorkshire Police.
They reported to me that at 2153 they received a call from a member of the public regarding a big cat sighting. They said that two people walking home close to Upper Helmsley near York witnessed a large black panther type animal not more than twenty five feet away from them.
Having received the report I immediately set off for Upper Helmsley where I met with the witnesses. On searching the area I came across a police patrol car which was also investigating the sighting. We scoured the area for the animal but could find no trace.
I have to say from the description and the apparent sincerity by the witnesses that it is quite possible that they witnessed a big cat.
This belief was bolstered by another report only 17 miles away from RAF Church Fenton near Selby where two other witnesses came across a large animal growling like a leopard not more than two and half hours later at 0030.

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