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Driver spots big cat at roadside
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THE “wildcat of the Chilterns” has been spotted again.

The latest sighting was made by Nigel Spiers, who was driving to work early on Tuesday morning when he came across what he believes may have been a black panther.

He was in Greys Road just before Highlands Farm when he saw the creature sitting at the roadside.

Mr Spiers, 45, of Farm Road, Henley, said: “He was sitting down and just looking at me and didn’t seem at all bothered I was there. He just stood up, ducked his head and, with two loping strides, was through the hedge and into the field.”

He said the animal was about the size of a labrador.


“It was jet black,” said Mr Spiers. “I know my wildlife and it was not a dog. I am certain it was a big cat. It looked just like a panther. It had the most beautiful tail, which was like that of a cheetah, designed to help balance when running.”

Mr Spiers, a sash window renovator, said the animal could have been hunting rabbits.

He added: “I was aware that big cats like this had been seen before. My boss saw one once so I was not that surprised.”

There has been a catalogue of sightings of similar creatures in the area. In 1998, in the space of just a few months, there were reports of a panther-like animal in Goring, Stoke Row, Fawley, Ipsden and Woodcote.

In May 2001, one was spotted in Nuffield and in June 2005 a beige big cat was seen by a train driver near Wargrave station.

In the same month, the shopkeeper at Binfield Heath stores saw a big cat resembling a panther walking through the centre of the village and a woman spotted one a week earlier in Harpsden.

In September 2006, there were reports from Nettlebed and Sonning Eye, where an angler said the creature was larger than his 7st dog,

The last sighting before Tuesday’s was at Cookley Green when a large cat-like creature was seen jumping a stie by the B481.

Paul Westwood, who runs Big Cat Monitors, said South Oxfordshire was a hotspot for sightings.

“There has been quite a lot of activity in the area,” he said. “I am convinced these creatures are either panthers or black leopards.”

He advised anyone who came across a not to panic.

“Stand still and don’t run,” he said. “Avoid making eye contact and just slowly back away.”

Mr Westwood said it is possible the animals were kept in a private collection and had escaped.

There is no distinct species as black panther. The term is used to describe a number of wild black-coated cats, normally leopards or jaguars. They get their colour from excessive production of melanin and are normally found in the dense, tropical rain forests of south east Asia.


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Published on 26 May 2009

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Comments (4)  

I would welome any reports of big cats in the Oxfordshire area. I live in Oxfordshire and will be able to follow up sightings at very short notice. I have been following up sightings since 1990 and have worked hands on with most species of big cat. I will respect your confidentiality at all times.

-,

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I was driving along Harpsden Road towards Henley yesterday (Thur 4th June) when I saw a muntjac come out of the hedgerow on the right hand side of the road, as I slowed down so as not to frighten it, out of the corner of my eye I also saw something black appear out of the hedge. Looking in my mirror this animal appeared to be cat like in the way it was stalking something, but it was too big to be a domestic cat. Until mentioning it to work colleagues, I was unaware that there had been any recent sightings of big cats in the area.

-Sally Cuss, Caversham

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My brother-in-law was returning from a run yesterday (Sunday 18th July 2010) and spotted what he thought to be a large black cat run across the track in front of him. Hes been living out of the country for the last 10 or so years and was completely unaware of any previous sightings. This occurred at a wooded area, known as the Roman Baths, between Dairy Lane and Mill End at approx 5pm. He said it was fairly large in size, probably that of a large dog, and moved very quickly and smoothly like a cat. Im not sure if you are still following this up but I thought it was worth mentioning.

-Russ Leith, Sonning Common

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Not sure if this is relevant but we were walking our dogs in Long Wittenham today (25/7/10) and ahead of us laying on the track was a VERY large cat. It was too large to be a domestic cat. The cat got up and walked away. The dogs did not chase which was unusual. It was black or dark grey and had a very long curly tail. The posting regarding a sighting near Sonning Common sounded very similar.

-Michele Lassetter, Long Wittenham

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