Sighting of the Week

This remarkable sighting comes from near Lostwithiel, Cornwall, on the edge of Bodmin moor, where the 'Beast of Bodmin' has been sighted many times over the years. It took place around 6.30 pm on the 4th April 2008. Our witness, a local woman who was walking her dog, takes up the story:-

"I was walking along the forest path, which is generally deserted, and used mainly by local people. Another woman was coming towards me with a Collie dog. As we approached each other, our dogs started to play together, and I stopped to hold a conversation with the dog's owner. As we were chatting, the large cat came shooting out of the woods with a dead lamb hanging limply from its mouth. It appeared startled to see us, and hesitated, as though it was planning which direction to run. it stood less than 20 feet away from us for at least 5 seconds, before my dog started to head towards it, and it shot off, over to the other side of the woods. The other woman, and I were amazed, but surprisingly, not afraid until my dog started to chase the animal, and then I realised a degree of danger. After about 10 minutes, chatting with the woman, about what we had seen, I continued my walk, taking the same route as I do most days. After about 20 minutes of my sighting, I met a group of holidaymakers (4 people. It was during the Easter break, at the time). As I passed them, they seemed agitated, and I asked them if they were O.K. They blurted out to me that they had seen what appeared to be a "black panther" dash past them, about 10 minutes ago. I was rather pleased that so many people also sighted this large cat.

"I feel very privileged to have seen this creature. It was beautiful, and my only regret is that I didn't have a camera with me at the time, as it stood still long enough for me to have gotten a first rate photograph."

What sparked off your interest in mystery cats in Britain?

My own interest in British big cats was sparked off by tales people told me. I’m a folklorist and collect traditional and new tales about the Wiltshire landscape. Among the accounts of strange experiences people have passed on to me, have been one or two sightings of big black beasts – sometimes clearly cats, sometimes unidentifiable, always inexplicable. I joined BCIB to get access to their database of big cats sightings for Wiltshire, and also to learn more about the evidence for big cats in Britain. In my dealings with BCIB I’ve been trying to solve the question: ‘folklore or fact?’ I’ve not seen or heard a cat myself (not sure if I’m pleased about that or disappointed!).

I recently floated the question ‘What sparked off your interest in mystery cats in Britain?’ on the BCIB email discussion list, to try to get a feel for the range and depth of interest among members. Here are some of the replies, which fall neatly into two camps:-

Reading or seeing TV programme about them

“After I read Cat Country by Di Francis 20 years ago or more.” Darren R.

“Reading Strange Creatures from Time and Space by John Keel in my early teens.” Darren E.

“I think what started it off for me was the stories of the Beast of Exmoor and the Beast of Bodmin. Also the programmes that they had made at the time.” Jennifer

“I’ve always been interested in mysteries since I can remember as a child - books by Di Francis inspired me to take up the quest in the 80s which I did - had a lull for a few years before starting again. Also it is on our doorstep so it is a mystery that can be readily investigated.” Mark Fraser

“From early childhood I had a great love for big cats, so when they were reported on the news and in newspapers (in the 60s and 70s I remember The Beast of this and The Beast of that) I was only too willing to believe them. I wanted them to be there and I wanted to see them. As I was so young, I couldn't believe that anyone would make a story of this nature up. When some of the witnesses were reported as being policemen or whatever - credible witnesses - it just strengthened my belief that big cats WERE out there ..... somewhere. I really didn't think that it would take this long to find conclusive evidence.” Cheryl

“Gerald Durrell, Graham Dangerfield and Di Francis's Cat Country, and in that order. Plus I am Leo birthsign, might have something to do with it! lol” Alan

Actually seeing a big cat, or knowing someone who has seen one

“I became interested in big cats after I had my own sighting of one.” Donna

“My interest was sparked whilst on a cricket weekend in the late 80s in Crowcombe, Somerset. I sat and listened to one of the locals talk at some length to members of our party about a black panther that he had regularly seen around the area. Armed with this info a few of us, maybe foolishly, went looking for it. I was hooked! I also had the good fortune to glimpse a mountain lion in California, near the ranch where I was staying. Also living close to Cannock Chase where there have been numerous sightings, and being present when a colleague of mine was sure he'd glimpsed a black cat on Beaudesert Golf Club, has rekindled my interest.” Martin R

“I'd been interested in the Surrey Puma for some years and we then got reports of a big cat in Cambridgeshire which soon got the name "The Fen Tiger". It's Black of course. One evening whilst walking my German Shepherd "Goliath" we were "roared" at by something. I was then hooked on big cats. Having then carried a 35 mm camera for years when the opportunity came I took 6 or 7 photos. Guess what? Due to the short lens I had 6 or 7 full-stop size photos of the Fen Tiger. I've tried all sorts of ways to make them viewable but no luck. I've had a few fairly good sightings since and of course the one in Horncastle with Mark Fraser 4 years ago. Witnesses often have said, "I usually have a camera with me but not when I saw the big cat", so in my emails I now have the signature: Take care and take a camera. My latest camera has a 56X zoom lens. No more full-stops for me!” Terry Dye

So – how about you?

Take our poll (on the sidebar) and tell us what sparked off your interest in mystery cats in Britain.