[WorldUrbanLegend] British big cats
In the misty realms of British folklore and urban legend, the tales of elusive big cats weave a tapestry of intrigue and mystery. These creatures, often referred to as "panthers," "pumas," or simply "black cats," have sparked the imaginations of many, with reported sightings echoing through the verdant hills and shadowy woods of the United Kingdom.
The whispers of these beasts began with rare encounters, where individuals stumbled upon medium-sized species like the Eurasian lynx. A notable incident in 1980 saw a puma captured alive in the rugged landscapes of Scotland, a remnant of exotic pets that had escaped or been released into the wild, perhaps due to the burdens of ownership or the stringent regulations of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976.
Yet, the notion of a thriving population of "true big cats" in Britain has been met with skepticism. Experts and government officials alike dismiss these claims, citing a lack of compelling evidence. Many supposed sightings, often made from a distance, have been attributed to the misidentification of domestic cats, leading some folklorists to label these encounters as mere "media artifacts" born from the journalistic practices of the 1970s and 1980s.
These legends form a complex web where ancient tales intertwine with modern myths. For instance, a medieval Welsh poem, "Pa Gwr," mentions a creature called "Cath Palug," which roamed Anglesey until it was slain by Cei. This cat is described as the offspring of the monstrous sow Henwen, and its legend has been passed down through generations.
Additionally, the New Forest folktale recounts how John de Stratford pulled a giant, red, antlered lion from the ground in 1400. This story was first recorded in the marginalia of an 18th-century Bible, and in the late 20th century, sightings of the lion were reported near the Red Lion Pub.
In contemporary times, these sightings continue unabated. BBC Wildlife Magazine reported in 2006 the "top ten" regions in Great Britain where claims of big cat sightings occurred, including Devon, Yorkshire, Scotland, Wales, Gloucestershire, Sussex, Cornwall, Kent, Somerset, and Leicestershire. The number of sightings in these regions ranged from 676 in Devon to 89 in Leicestershire.
Since the early 2000s, there have been numerous claims from individuals across the UK alleging attacks by supposed big cats. However, to date, there is no substantial evidence proving these were indeed attacks by non-domestic species. Such claims include those of an eleven-year-old boy in Monmouthshire, a man in southeast London, a 74-year-old woman in the Scottish Highlands, and a man in Cornwall.
Phantom big cats have also formed the basis of several local urban legends, where unexplained animal deaths, particularly livestock, are attributed to these imagined creatures, such as the Beast of Bodmin Moor and the Cotswolds Big Cat. Efforts to find physical "evidence" to support these claims have typically led to more ordinary and less sensational origins. In the case of the Beast of Bodmin, a skull found in the River Fowey was presented as proof of its existence but was later identified as having been cut from a leopard skin rug. Similarly, the only predator DNA found in the case of the Cotswolds Big Cat was that of foxes.
One particularly notable instance is the "Beast of Exmoor." Originally surfacing in a manner similar to other local big cat stories, sightings of the creature were reported as early as 1970. The story gained national prominence in 1983 when a South Molton farmer named Eric Ley claimed to have lost over 100 sheep in three months, all apparently killed by violent throat injuries. This claim led to "nationwide interest," with the Daily Express offering a substantial financial reward for video footage of the creature, while the government took the unusual step of deploying a team of Royal Marine snipers to hunt down the beast.
Despite extensive media coverage and both professional and amateur hunting for the creature, no large cat has ever been positively identified to explain the incidents of livestock slayings, which are now attributed to other causes such as large dogs. Despite the lack of evidence, the Beast of Exmoor persists in the public imagination; alleged sightings continue to be reported occasionally around Exmoor long after an escaped exotic pet would have died. One national newspaper even reported a found carcass alleged to be the Beast of Exmoor that was later identified as a dead seal. Beyond these rumors regarding the creature itself, one journalist posited that the lasting legacy of the urban legend may serve as a mythological base for real-life wildlife stories, such as the Emperor of Exmoor.
