Expert's plea on big cats (From Gazette & Herald)

Expert's plea on big cats

A WILDLIFE consultant has called for people in North Yorkshire to help collate sightings of the mysterious Ryedale "big cat".

The sighting of a pair of big black cats by a Ryedale woman Elizabeth Downes while she was driving from Sledmere to Garton-on-the-Wolds on Saturday, October 18, has excited north-east representative of the British Big Cat Society, Bob Chaffer.

Mr Chaffer wants people who have also seen what they believe is a panther or black leopard roaming around Ryedale to record their sightings with the group.The British Big Cat Society was set up to scientifically identify, quantify, catalogue and protect the big cats that they believe freely roam the British countryside.

"There definitely are black leopards or pumas in Ryedale," said Mr Chaffer, of Settrington. "I've heard and investigated reports of several sightings and they've all contained similar descriptions."

Miss Downes had a clear view of two large cats playing or stalking something in a field. She is adamant that she saw two black leopards.

"I have worked at the local zoo where they did have two black leopards so I am well

To report a sighting or find out more about big cats visit www.britishbigcats.org

Updated: 11:54 Saturday, November 01, 2003