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Creatures, Myths & Legends

DNA tests to solve mystery of big cats

By T.K. Randall
January 12, 2012 · Comment icon 60 comments

Image Credit: Wikipedia
DNA tests are to be carried out in the UK to determine once and for all if big cats exist in the wild.
The test will be conducted on the remains of a deer thought to have been killed by a large predatory cat. The 'alien big cats' phenomenon has endured for decades in Britain with sightings and reports of large cats such as panthers in a country to which such animals are not native. "Although people occasionally report a possible big cat from a distance, close up encounters with such cats are rare," said National Trust ranger David Armstrong. "Their hearing and movement are exceptional, which helps them avoid close contact with people."
Dr Robin Allaby, Associate Professor at the School of Life Sciences at the University of Warwick has visited the kill site to examine the evidence and take DNA samples from the wounds of the roe deer to be tested. Theses samples are now being tested with the results due by the end of the month.


Source: Telegraph | Comments (60)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #51 Posted by turn on tune in 13 years ago
in the 90's a puma was trapped and caught in scotland. 2 dead linx, 1 shot by a farmer after killing 3 of his sheep, 1 road kill, i have the articles somewhere will try to find them to be more precise.
Comment icon #52 Posted by NikkiAidyn 13 years ago
There has been enough evidence imo to already tell that there are wild cats in Britain, but DNA would be nice too.
Comment icon #53 Posted by turn on tune in 13 years ago
a new video from stroud in gloucester was released this week showing without doubt a 30 sec clip of the black cat. from head to tail it was estimated at 6ft long.
Comment icon #54 Posted by Timonthy 13 years ago
a new video from stroud in gloucester was released this week showing without doubt a 30 sec clip of the black cat. from head to tail it was estimated at 6ft long. From the way they estimated the size it looks like it could just be a large feral cat. Here is a link to the article 'Six-foot Big Cat captured on video'.
Comment icon #55 Posted by Timonthy 13 years ago
And here is the update: 'No big cat DNA found on Woodchester deer' Edit: The culprit - a fox.
Comment icon #56 Posted by Oppono Astos 13 years ago
From the way they estimated the size it looks like it could just be a large feral cat. Here is a link to the article 'Six-foot Big Cat captured on video'. Yep, that's the one with the reconstruction with the giant human who can hardly reach down to touch the model cat...
Comment icon #57 Posted by Timonthy 13 years ago
Yep, that's the one with the reconstruction with the giant human who can hardly reach down to touch the model cat... Well he does look like he's carrying around a few extra pounds but calling him giant is a little insensitive! Probably one of the reasons he can't bend down so well too... In all seriousness, in this video he does model the scale in a fairly reliable way - and doesn't look unreasonably big. The stills from the video with the model cat just look a bit weird.
Comment icon #58 Posted by Oppono Astos 13 years ago
Well he does look like he's carrying around a few extra pounds but calling him giant is a little insensitive! Probably one of the reasons he can't bend down so well too... In all seriousness, in this video he does model the scale in a fairly reliable way - and doesn't look unreasonably big. The stills from the video with the model cat just look a bit weird. If that's a representation of the alleged big cat, why does it only come up to below his knee height? Either he's a 12' giant (unlikely) or that's a domestic cat (more likely).
Comment icon #59 Posted by Timonthy 13 years ago
If that's a representation of the alleged big cat, why does it only come up to below his knee height? Either he's a 12' giant (unlikely) or that's a domestic cat (more likely). Because it is a representation of the cat from the video and therefore is not a very big cat at all.
Comment icon #60 Posted by BrianPotter 13 years ago
I thnk if you ask most 'country folk'...of which im one....its more a matter of how many and not if....the deer that sparked this debate was taken down by some feline...no fox...foxxy woxxy does not take a prey as large as a deer by the throat unless its a really big fox...you are talking about a 2-3 ft deer here...little foxxy couldnt do that imo...i love foxes btw


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