A black leopard. Photo: Tambako the Jaguar CC-BY-ND-2.0
Walkers are being warned to be on the lookout for large cat spotted in Easter Ross.
Police say the panther-like creature was seen by a member of the public walking near Dornoch at the weekend.
The area, near the Dornoch Firth, is popular with coastal walkers. The animal was seen between Dornoch Caravan Park and the greenkeeper’s shed at Dornoch Golf Club at 8am on Saturday.
The sighting is the second in a week in the Easter Ross and Sutherland area. Northern Constabulary said a walker spotted what they described as a ‘very large, muscular black cat with a square head’ in the Fendon area of Tain, 8km (5 miles) away, across the Dornoch Firth, last Thursday. It was reported as being about 4ft long, with a 2 to 3ft tail.
The coast near Dornoch Golf Club, where the big cat was sighted
A spokesperson said: “Police are advising members of the public not to approach the animal if they come across it and report any sightings to their nearest police station.”
The reported sightings follow an alert in the Highlands last month when a walker said he had seen a ‘very large, black cat’ in Inshriach Forest near Kincraig, south of Aviemore.
At the time, Douglas Richardson, animal manager of the nearby Highland Wildlife Park, said the chances of it being a large cat were remote and that mistaken sightings are common. He pointed out the general public often has difficulties identifying even human beings.
He said: “I’ve been called out on many wild goose chases after sightings like this. They usually end up being a dog that’s been seen.
“A large cat could survive in this area, but the chances of this being a genuine sighting of a large cat are very remote.”
The only two types of large cat corresponding to the description, he said, are the black leopard and the black jaguar.
Anyone with information about the Easter Ross sightings is asked to phone Northern Constabulary at Dornoch on 01862 862222.
Someone
01 September 2010Well, well, well,
They dont exist?
A few years ago when you could listen to Police radio on the old scanner, there was an incident near Thornhill , Dumfriesshire. "Something" jumped across the road" in front of a motorist. They reported it to the local police. They came and investigated - there was "something" in the fileld with "bright orange eyes" reflected in the their torches. The control room at Dumfries HQ gave advise via a "dog handler" DO NOT LOOK AT IT, DO NOT TURN YOUR BACK ON IT, WALK AWAY FROM IT, BUT DO NOT MAKE EYE CONTACT.
So they dont exist???
Scotcats
03 September 2010I think you might find those instructions are exactly the instructions that are given when encountering a big cat. It is advice given in the USA and Africa. It is not instructions to ignore it!! Those are safety instructions.
Rob Tomlin
26 October 2010I was a complete disbeliever in all this large cat stuff until one walked right out in front of my car back in 1986. It was broad day light and it walked very slowly in front of my car about 4 feet away and then disappeared into a wood yard. It wasn't a Black Panther thats for sure but it was easly as big as a Black labrador I think it was ill it was very thin but had big thick legs and large paws as it walked it coward as it seemed surprised that my car was there. I sat and looked at it for a good 10 seconds before it slowly disappeared into the wood yard. I never reported it as i thought no one would believe me. However since then i know for that these large cats do exist. As i said they arnt as big as Black Panthers however they are big enough. Im glad I was in the car
Rob Melbourne
10 February 2012january 2012, a customer of mine who fishes the river nith showed me a photograph on his phone of large paw print as a scale of size he put his foot next to it. it was wider than a size 10 wader approx 6inches.