(Original headline: Paws for thought over cat sightings )
Terrified Chasefolk are certain a panther is living in their midst after a spate of fresh sightings in the forestland around their homes.
The increase in sightings of the big cat over the Chase have accelerated over the last 12 months, with Chasefolk inundating websites dedicated to the mysterious beasts.
Big cat experts have recently released figures showing rocketing numbers of sightings in our area. In a report, The British Big Cats Society said there have been a massive 71 unexplained wild cat sightings in Staffordshire. Their findings have been backed by Cannock folk.
Huntington insurance clerk Andrew Lomas had an encounter with a dark-coloured animal as he made his way through the Chase, near the Pye Green tower, earlier this month.
“I was riding through to Pye Green at around 11pm when I saw something dark in the road, in my headlights,” the terrified man said.
“At first I thought it was a deer, but it moved so fast as I got nearer, I got the impression it was something else.
“As I passed the spot where it had been, I slowed down and looked into the bracken. I could make out a pair of red piercing eyes staring back at me.
“It gave me the chills and I drove off straight away. I never believed all these stories, but now my opinion has changed. I know what I saw.”
Janette Muller, of Hednesford, reported a similar encounter earlier this year.
“I was out walking with my boyfriend over Cannock Chase when we noticed a disturbance in the bracken ahead of us,” Janette said.
“All of a sudden this big black shape jumped up and took off up the hill. I’m not sure at all what it was, but it was much too big to be a domestic animal.
“It made a hell of a noise as it raced away.”
The Big Cats Society said about 60 per cent of reported sightings were of panther-like cats, 32 per cent were of brown or sandy-coloured creatures, possibly pumas, and six per cent resembled a lynx. They said they could not rule out the frightening possibility of more than one breed of big cat taking refuge on the Chase.
Cannock Chase has a long history of big cat sightings and the internet is bulging with people registering sightings on websites dedicated to big cats.
Big cats were said to be released into the wild after a change in the Dangerous Animals Act left many owners of exotic breeds fearing hefty charges. Experts believe these animals have learnt to adapt to their new surroundings and have bred with other big cats.
Peter Shirley, regional director of the Wildlife Trust, questioned the validity of many of the Chase sightings.
He said while some cats may be lurking in the wild, he questioned why there was no clear footage showing the creatures.
He said: “What we do know is that big cats have been released from captivity at different times over the past 20 to 30 years. I think there probably have been, or are, big cats on the loose in this country but the big question is why is it that people can go to remote parts of the world and get footage of rare big cats but not one person has got decent footage of big cats here in England?
“When people see things in poor light, the light can play tricks on perspective and the perception of size.”
The nationwide figures published by the society included five reported attacks on horses, 37 sheep kills and several paw prints, of which plaster casts were taken.
The society said it had also gathered evidence of at least 23 releases of big cats since the Dangerous Wild Animals Act was passed in 1976.
Danny Bamping, founder of the Big Cat Society, said: “This year we have been able to study evidence in greater detail and we estimate that just under a third of all reported sightings are not of big cats.”
