A MOTORIST had a lucky escape when a large black cat shot out across
the path of his car.
Roy Eisley, 62, was driving along the A417 near the M50 junction at
10.15pm on Sunday when he caught sight of the beast.
The cat was about two feet tall, jet black with a curled tail.
And the stunned Tredworth resident said he only missed hitting the cat
by a few seconds as it dashed out across the road.
I couldn't believe it when I first caught sight of it, Roy said.
I thought my eyes were fooling me so I slowed right down and watched
it wonder off. There was no doubt that it was definitely a panther.
Shocked by his sighting, Roy stopped off at a nearby pub and was
surprised to hear that his sighting was not unusual.
I pulled into the Rose and Crown pub and told a guy there what I had
seen. said Roy.
He said to me that it happened all the time and there were two of
them roaming around in this area.
In fact the farmer there was always complaining about the animals
killing his sheep.
I'm just glad I was in my car when I spotted it, I certainly wouldn't
want to be out there camping.
A survey by the British Big Cats Society has reported more than 2,000
suspected big cat sighting across the country between 2004 and 2005.
Only Devon and Yorkshire has recorded more sightings than
Gloucestershire among the English counties during this time.
Most black cat sightings are attributed to panthers, with reports also
of their smaller cousin the lynx, once native to this country.
Reasons for their existence in the wild today vary β" from escaped zoo
and circus animals to a large release in the 1970s when the Dangerous
Wild Animals Act was enforced.
Comment:
I have been watching these Panthers for 18 years now. Unfortunately I
don't report the sightings because of the ridicule that always
follows. It is nice to see these cats, and count yourself lucky to
have seen one. there is a health population out there across the
county and possibly countrywide. Last year I had my best sighting when
I came across a mother and two cubs. I wont say when and where exactly
I had seen them, but they were within twelve miles of Gloucester. If
they were to harm anybody, then I would probably give out the
information where I know them to be. As well as the Panthers. The Lynx
is also doing well for itself in our countryside.
Adrian, retired Gamekeeper, Gloucester
