Burnley man takes photo of 'big cat' (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Burnley man takes photo of 'big cat'
5:21pm Monday 27th June 2011 in News
MYSTERY The couple’s picture of the animal
A ‘BIG cat’ was captured on camera by a Burnley couple enjoying a day out in the Yorkshire Dales.
Peter Eastham and his wife Vi were parked in a lay-by, following a walk in Rylstone, when they spotted what they first thought was a dog.
The black animal, which they then believed was a big cat, was at the roadside near Scale House, in Grassington Road.
Area where 'big cat' was seen
Mr Eastham, who took a photograph of the creature, said it resembled a young panther or leopard.
“It was twice the size of a domestic cat and it was jet black with a long tail,” he said.
“It’s possible it could have been a domestic cat, but I don’t think so from the way it slunk along.
"Its walk reminded me of a young panther or leopard.
“My wife and I both looked at it through the binoculars and we were both convinced it wasn’t a domestic cat.”
Ian Bond, an ecologist and author of a book about big cats in Britain, was sent the photograph to identify the animal.
He said: “This is a very interesting photo. The animal is nothing like panther-size, but I wouldn’t disagree with the estimate of about twice the size of a domestic cat.
“Even more interesting points are the length of the tail and the shape of the head.
“The animal in this picture is clearly not an adult panther and I suppose the reasonable interpretation is that it is an outsized domestic cat.”
Mr Bond said that there are a lot of reports nationally of cats that are too big to be domestic but too small to be a panther.
And according to Big Cats in Britain, a big cats research group, they make up the second most commonly reported category of sightings after those of panthers.
“I think this picture will create a lot of interest among those interested in the big cats in Britain community,” said Mr Bond.
Comments(17)
useyourhead
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6:17pm Mon 27 Jun 11
MerlinTheVoiceofReason2
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6:44pm Mon 27 Jun 11
nugget123
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7:36pm Mon 27 Jun 11
MerlinTheVoiceofReasmy cat alright he looks like he ate all the pies
on2 wrote:
It's an obese black cat that's had too many Yorkshire puds for dinner.
Interocitor
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10:32pm Mon 27 Jun 11
carrman2
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10:51pm Mon 27 Jun 11
Keep Darwen Green
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10:59pm Mon 27 Jun 11
Seneca
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11:04pm Mon 27 Jun 11
campbell69s
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7:42am Tue 28 Jun 11
Burnley Man Takes Photo of 'Cat'
Chuck-Norris
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8:41am Tue 28 Jun 11
bottletop
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10:03am Tue 28 Jun 11
Troy McCLur
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10:11am Tue 28 Jun 11
I would say it was at least 4 or 5 times bigger than a domestic cat. I never believed these 'big cat' stories before this incident. I know for a fact that they are out there.
Looking at that photo, there is nothing in the picture which provides perspective like a tractor or something we can compare the cat to. It just looks like a regular moggy to me.
bigcatdetective
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10:43am Tue 28 Jun 11
Gob
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11:01am Tue 28 Jun 11
As for this photo I am 100% certain that it is just a moggy.
gudari
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6:38pm Tue 28 Jun 11
Keep Darwen Green wrote:Wouldn't you have eaten the cat? And what it laid as well? I suspect the answer is yes as you talk s**t, whatever the subject. Surprised to discover that you read anything other than articles about Burnley F.C., although the bloke who spotted the cat is from Burnley. Can't stay away.
Looks just like the one that keeps puckering up in my flower beds. In fact it looks like its puckering up to lay one out in the picture
scotcats
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8:05pm Tue 28 Jun 11
scotcats
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8:06pm Tue 28 Jun 11
nugget123 says...
5:37pm Mon 27 Jun 11
silly people