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Is There a Big Cat Loose in Preston?
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Is There a Big Cat Loose in Preston?
Weird News: 25th July 2008
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Train driver Wayne Pattinson is used to seeing creatures on his tracks
– from dogs to foxes via large feral cats.
But he got more than he bargained for when he was driving his usual
route from Barrow-in-Furness to Preston last Thursday.
Wayne, of Morton Close, Barrow-in-Furness, said: "It was about 8.30pm
and I was three miles outside Preston heading towards Lancaster and
this thing was crossing the track about 100 metres away.
"At first I thought it was a fox, but you can tell a fox a mile off
and it was three or four times bigger than a normal cat."
The 34-year-old, who has been a train driver for seven years, said:
"It was black and feline and moved like a cat. It looked just like a puma.
"I've never seen anything like it except in the zoo. I was wondering
if there have been any other sightings of big cats in the Preston area.
"I've mentioned it to a few other drivers but they haven't seen anything."
Big cats include tigers, lions, leopards, jaguars, cheetahs and snow
leopards, but the roaring varieties are sometimes referred to as great
cats.
Their occurrence in Britain came as a result of the 1976 Dangerous
Wild Animals Act which came in response to the increasing number of
people who were keeping exotic pets including hybrids between wild and
domestic species, such as wolfdogs and Bengal cats.
The act led hundreds of people to release their animals out into the wild.
Probably the most famous 'big cat' is the black panther-like Beast of
Bodmin which is alleged to roam the Cornish moors.
Paul Westwood, who runs a website dedicated to listing big cat
sightings across the country, said animals were also released by
owners who could no longer afford to keep them.
He said: "They (big cats) are still being brought into this country
illegally as cubs.
"The vast majority of sightings are of black cat-like animals.
"Black does appear bigger when you look at it in the distance. It's an
optical illusion. I think 95% are misidentification.
"It's quite interesting that this one was seen near railway lines.
Leopards and tigers will use tracks in their own habitats to get from
place to place."
Have you ever seen a big cat in Lancashire? Call Melanie Wallwork on
01772 838 107 or e mail melanie.wallwork@yahoo.co.uk
Do you have any information on the above reports. Were you the person
involved, or are you aware of any more sightings in this area. We would appreciate any information that you could
give us.
Have your say on the forum.