Big cats in Britain!
Are dangerous leopards and pumas roaming around Devon?
Tales of the Beast of Exmoor, an elusive big cat killing farm animals in Devon, were rife in the early 1980s.
Even today, there are regular sightings of such predators in Britain’s countryside, and now four experts are joining the search. Researcher Jon Mcgowan, tracker Rhoda Watkins, search-and-rescue operator Jay Opie and cryptozoologist Carl Marshall explore Exmoor, lay camera traps and look for evidence.
‘I’ve had many sightings myself and I’ve discovered loads of field evidence,’ says Jon.
They interview people who’ve seen the big cats, including farmer Eric, who lost nearly 100 lambs to the ‘Beast’ in 1983. He tells them about a butcher who kept a pet puma and a leopard, which Eric fears may have ended up living wild.
‘He’d drive down the road with two big cats in the back of his truck,’ says Eric. ‘Then things got a bit hot for him and the cats vanished.’
The experts find bones with enormous toothmarks on them and huge footprints. But can they find conclusive evidence?
‘I’ve seen one myself, so I know they’re out there,’ says Jay. ‘If one of those cats wanted to take you out, it would kill you before you’ve even seen it.’