Big cat is back in Gloucestershire believes tracker Frank Tunbridge
THE big cat prowling the Five Valleys is back, believes tracker Frank Tunbridge, after it jumped out of a tree and frightened a woman who's seen it twice before.
The startled woman came face-to-face with the black, puma-like creature in the Golden Valley near Chalford, said Mr Tunbridge.
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Frank Tunbridge
The sighting was only a few miles from where video footage of a suspected big cat was taken. That came to light earlier this year after suspected big cat deer kills in Woodchester and Dursley were assessed to have no feline DNA evidence.
Mr Tunbridge explained what the woman had told him.
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"Her daughter went out in the field not far from where they live and their dog suddenly shot under the fence into a rough area," he said. "Suddenly the daughter thought she saw a black dog come out the other end. The animal went straight up the nearest tree – the girl thought it was a cat.
"It went to the end of the bough and bent it over."
The girl ran home, terrified on Sunday, November 18 – then her mum saw it.
She went back and suddenly it climbed down the tree and jumped out in front of her, Mr Tunbridge said.
"It looked at her and as she was on her own, she ran back.
"She was 20 yards away. It was black, with a small head and a long, thin bushy tail."
No trace of footprints or droppings has been found.
"There is less small prey around now, so the animal may have been out hunting, or looking for somewhere to lay up," said Mr Tunbridge.
â Have you seen a big cat, or found an animal which may have been killed by one? Call The Citizen newsdesk on 01452 698 821. Mr Tunbridge records all suspected sightings in and around Gloucestershire, and he can be reached on 07711 476 715.
Comments
by Raccoon
Friday, December 14 2012, 4:29PM
“He'd be better off tracking rabbits...at least he'd have some chance of getting a photo.”
by Raccoon
Tuesday, December 11 2012, 6:22PM
“Exactly which species of big cat is Frank claiming has been seen by this woman and daughter? A puma is the same as a cougar, i.e. not black. The last time a 'puma' was supposedly seen, it was in Brockworth and was described as being brown, by which I assume they meant lion-coloured. Pumas are approximately lion-coloured. Pumas are also pretty big, and would be feeeding on livestock by now if they existed in the county.”
by bonzaharris1
Monday, December 10 2012, 10:27PM
“Someone should get on the blower to David Attenborough, his CV in animal tracking is second to none. Perhaps he would have better luck in finding this elusive beast, accompanied of course by his faithfull camera crew. Should settle for once and for all if the "big cat" exists !!”
by noodledoodles
Monday, December 10 2012, 3:40PM
“Allo, Bob Fleming here. Today we'll be looking at big cats.
I'm sure this guy was one of the singers on Bob Flemings Folkin classics album.
http://tinyurl.com/dc845o”
by IVW__
Monday, December 10 2012, 2:43PM
“I have seen a brown cat about 5 years ago near Ciren as I have mentioned on here before. As a cat owner , dog owner and a person who has seen umpteen foxes I know what I saw was bigger than a fox and very feline, even had a swagger.
True? Yes. Interesting? No not really. Please Echo enough is enough, unless this man brings in a dead puma or something tell him to go away.”
by QwertyOS
Monday, December 10 2012, 11:11AM
“I do not know which is worse, this publicity seeker making a fool of himself and the County, or the press for giving him the time of day. Grow up for goodness sake.”
by chalkey67
Monday, December 10 2012, 10:41AM
“Big Cat in the Chalford Valley? Has he been down to the Stroud Brewery and had too much of their refreshing bottled version?”
by CaptCX
Monday, December 10 2012, 10:35AM
“Strange isn't it - virtually everyone now owns a mobile phone with a relatively high resolution camera incuded upon it - yet nobody has got a picture of one of these big cats stalking our countryside and (according to Frank) Cheltenham town centre.”
by Matt1006
Monday, December 10 2012, 9:54AM
“"Big cat is back in Gloucestershire....". Perhaps Frank would like to tell us where it's been then, as he seems to think it has been out of the county...
Here we go again. Given the weather, it will be snow leopards next.”
by 2ladybugs
Monday, December 10 2012, 9:52AM
“Oh flipping heck, I forgot I had toast under the grill and now it's burnt reading this rubbish.”