Big Leopard On The Lurk.
Expert claims big cat is prowling Irvine’s roads.

A big cat hunter warned people in Irvine there could be a leopard lurking about the town . Mark Fraser of the Scottish Big Cat Society made the claim after he found out a startled river came across a mystery big cat last week.

The local man was stunned when the large feline ran across the road in front of his car at the Dreghorn roundabout before scampering off into the undergrowth. The beast was described as being the height of a fully grown Labrador, jet-black, and 6ft in length with a long tail which was s-shaped at the tip.

And now Mark has warned people not to go too close to the animal or else they could pay the price. He said: “This isn’t the first time a big cat has been spotted at the Dreghorn roundabout. There have been a few sightings over the past few years at this spot and its very intriguing. Its definitely not a black panther because there is no such thing. (I’m sorry but I never said this and quite a few things in this report are wrong see update.) I believe its a strain of wildcat or a black leopard. The description of the tail makes it sound very much like it could be a leopard and thats very interesting if it is. These cats can be very dangerous. Most of the time they will just run away but if you try and corner them they will rip you up in shreds ins econds. I’m very interested to get more information and if anyone knows anything I would be very anxious for them to get in touch.”

The cat was spotted last Saturday night and is the latest in a long line of sightings. Already this year there have been 77 reports in Scotland, with 17 of them coming from this area alone.

Despite the fact that most people think the African plains are the most common place to find game, Mark insisted the Ayrshire fields are the ideal place for big cats to lurk. He said: “The wildlife, the shelter and the climate are perfect for these sort of creatures to survive in. Big cats can survive in any climate and its ideal for them here. I have heard of all sorts being spotted, from lynxes to leopards and last year there was even a report of a Bengal tiger down south. There are a lot of wildcats roaming around

the country because when the laws changed in the 1970s about people keeping them as pets, those of them who did have big cats just released them into the wild. As I said before, I’m not really sure what this person saw last week, but I would love to be able to help them out.”

If you have any information contact Mark Fraser at the Scottish Big Cat Society on 01563 555878.