The Beast of Dartmoor is the name given to Alien Big Cat sightings in the Dartmoor area of England. While the date of a first sighting is unclear, the Beast of Dartmoor has been sighted since the 1980s to 2010.[1]
Description[]
The Beast of Dartmoor is a large black or beige cat/dog-like animal. It is known to have injured and killed livestock in the area.
Sightings[]
Sightings of big cats in the area began in 1988. Dartmoor has also had sightings of other big cats as well as the alleged Beast of Dartmoor. In November 1998, a young male lion was spotted near Wrangaton. A search was made but the lion was not seen, and it has not been seen since.
In October 1998, two boys were camping on the moor when they were awoken by strange noises. In the morning, they found two big cats had clawed through the outer tent. Later, in November, large teeth marks were found in a tin of cat food and torn apart rubbish sacks. A paw print was left behind which wildlife experts believed came from a puma. In November 1999, a puma-like animal was sighted in Cornwood.
In April 2004, a large black cat was sighted on Manaton Green. This animal was thought to have been responsible for the death of 14 hens. In July of that year, another puma-like animal was sighted by two walkers.
In August 2006, a large black cat was observed stalking some grazing sheep. It was described to be a foot taller and twice as long as the sheep.
In June 2007, a large black/grey animal said to resemble a bear was photographed walking along a track on Hound Tor.[1] Later, a resident came forward saying the photographs were actually of her pet Newfoundland, a large breed of dog. The owner of the photographs insisted it was still a big cat.[2]
Explanation[]
In July 2016, after Flaviu the lynx escaped from Dartmoor Zoo, it was revealed by zoo owner Benjamin Mee that pumas had been roaming the moor. In 1978, the zoo was expecting a delivery of five pumas after Plymouth Zoo had closed down. Zoo owner and circus entertainer Mary Chipperfield had allegedly released a breeding pair and one other puma into the wild rather than giving them up to a new home. However, Chipperfield's husband, Roger Cawley, denies the claims.[3] Sightings of big cats stopped in 2010, which may have been because the pumas, if this account is true, did not survive the harsh winter of that year.[1]