A big cat is thought to be on the prowl in the Cotswolds.
A big cat is thought to be on the prowl in the Cotswolds
A roe deer was found dead in Painswick within the region of South West England and wildlife enthusiast Frank Tunbridge has speculated that a lynx could be the culprit.
He is quoted by Gloucestershire Live as saying: "Where there's something to eat there's something to eat it. It is an old survival maxim which applies right across the natural world, and all wild creatures exist by this rule.On October 24, I received an email with photo attachments of a small roe deer which had been freshly killed. Much of it had been consumed in a manner relating to a large cat like animal."
"The killing and consumption exhibited by the signs of a roe deer are typical of a British big cat or a lynx. Which there is a viable population throughout the UK."
He noted that those type of predators tend to follow deer so it is plausible that one hs ended up in the region.
He said: "These cats, which are often described as similar to black leopards and pumas are sighted on a regular basis in all parts of the UK, and generally in rural areas, and are often seen in semi urban areas on the edge of towns. Where small deer such as muntjac and roe exist, basically, where the deer go the cats will not be far behind."