Puma Crosses Path of Norfolk Dog Walker
[Original headline: A puma just ran across my path]
Big cats may be on the prowl round Norwich once more following a sighting of a puma-like creature on a popular footpath.
Richard Walker of Woodhill Rise, New Costessey, was taking his dog for a walk along Marriott's Way when the animal ran across his path.
He said it was completely different to the foxes and deer he has spotted there before — and a big cat expert today confirmed that pumas were known to roam around this area.
Mr Walker, a bus driver, said: "I was taking the dog for a run at 4.45am when it ran across the path. I realised it was bigger than a fox and bigger than a medium-sized dog. It's the first time I've seen something like that and it took a couple of seconds to register what I had seen."
Mr Walker, who was on a bike, rode up to the spot where he saw the black-coloured creature vanish off into the bushes, but by this time it had disappeared.
Bob Engledow of Operation Big Cat, which monitors sightings of wild pumas, panthers and lynxes, said so far this year there had been 22 cases reported to him of big cats roaming the county.
Mr Engledow said pumas were known to move around the Norwich area.
Any sightings of big cats can be reported to Norfolk police's wildlife liaison officer on (01953) 424242, or Operation Big Cat on (01603) 406866.
• Story originally published by:
Norwich Evening News / England - July 25.02
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