Lazarus 0 Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgo...est/8172064.stm Think id shit me pants if i came fce to face with one of these An off-duty Ministry of Defence police dog handler has taken a photo of what he claims is a panther-sized big cat. Pc Chris Swallow was helping a friend with their garden in Helensburgh, Argyll, when he spotted the black creature on a nearby railway line. The officer, who is stationed at the Faslane naval base on the Clyde, said the cat was as big as a Labrador dog. Big cats have been reported in the area in the past, with several sightings of the so-called Coulport Cougar. Pc Swallow said he saw the animal on 30 June while working in the garden at Kildonan Drive, Helensburgh. He could tell it was not a Labrador, as he first thought, because of the way it was walking, and because its tail was about twice the length that a dog's would have been. I've heard stories about creatures like this moving about the countryside, but never really believed them before Pc Chris Swallow He said: "My friend's house is next to the West Highland Line and at one point I looked down and saw what I first thought was a black Labrador on the tracks. "There were trains coming and going throughout the day and I was a bit concerned, but when I looked again I saw that the animal wasn't moving the way I expected a dog to. "It was then I realised that what I was seeing was a big cat and I shouted on my friend to come and have a look. We were stunned." After running to his car to grab his camera phone, Pc Swallow stood on the rail bridge at Winston Road and got a still photo and a couple of minutes of footage of the animal moving up the railway line. He added: "It was remarkable. I've heard stories about creatures like this moving about the countryside, but never really believed them before. Looking back at the video I don't think there's any doubt that it's a big cat." The Coulport Cougar was first reported in June 2004. The creature was described as being tan and prowling the woods and hills around Loch Long, Portincaple, Whistlefield and next to the Coulport access road. Pc Chris Swallow and alsation Smokey Pc Swallow is a dog handler with the Ministry of Defence However, another creature, described as being black in colour, was also spotted at the nearby Garelochhead Training Camp, leading some people to believe that there may also have been a panther in the area. John Belshaw, pest control officer at the Faslane naval base, said he had spoken to people in the past who had been "quite shaken" by seeing a big cat cross the road in front of them during the night. Mr Belshaw said: "I have had a look at Chris's footage and have to say that I do not believe it is a domestic cat or a dog. "At one point in the video it seems to walk on the railway line and a dog simply wouldn't have had the balance to do this. "Also, you can tell from the size of the track that it is much larger than a house cat." There have been regular reports of big cat sightings across the UK, leading to speculation that they may have escaped from a private zoo or collection. Prior to the 1974 Wildlife Act, it was not illegal to release wild animals into the British countryside. 'Very exciting' Shaun Stevens, a researcher with the Big Cats in Britain group, said: "We have regular sightings reported every year of large black cats in the Helensburgh area and it appears to be a favourite haunt of these animals. "In Argyll, I probably get to hear of maybe 20 or 30 sightings in a year. In the UK we get a sighting practically every day." Mr Stevens said he believed the cats could be a hybrid species, or possible an entirely new species. "I myself have photographed a black hybrid cat of over 3.5ft in length," he said. "Knowing the width of the rail tracks in Chris's video is 4ft 8.5in, the animal photographed by him is clearly in excess of 4ft and as such is certainly not a domestic cat. "Initial first impressions are very exciting, as I think this could be one of the best pieces of footage of a big cat in the UK ever." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Wonder if Scottish Mag's seen it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMoog 0 Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 I used to live in Helensburgh a few years back, it's more likely to be some local youth disguised as a panther in an attempt to rob somewhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fish 11079 Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 I'd want to see the video in full to be honest, not just the still on that page. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renton 22413 Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 It just looks like a big domesticated cat to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trophyshy 7095 Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Why didn't he set his dog on it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Fish 11079 Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 It just looks like a big domesticated cat to me. Well that's good enough for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fop 1 Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 It just looks like a big domesticated cat to me. Looking at the track for perspective, it would certainly seem to be within the size range of a very big tomcat. And Black cats are especially easy to misjudge by eye. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jusoda Kid 1 Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Looks a decent size to me when you consider how far away he is looking ta the first metal fence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fop 1 Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Looks a decent size to me when you consider how far away he is looking ta the first metal fence. "Knowing the width of the rail tracks in Chris's video is 4ft 8.5in, the animal photographed by him is clearly in excess of 4ft and as such is certainly not a domestic cat. Doesn't make a lot of sense with the pictures, if the rail width is 4'8.5" then no way is that cat 4' even from head to outstretched tail, this is especially obvious later in the video. The more perspective you get into the video shot with the cat in the later sections, the "smaller" the cat seems relatively. Fop thinks it's just the well known black cat optical illusion in this case (just watch the last 30 second of the video to see what Fop means), even though without a doubt "big cats" are out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkeys Fist 43592 Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 How odd to find Laz posting pics of big black pussys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kitman 2207 Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 It's hard to tell much from this sort of blurry footage. However it doesn't seem far fetched to me, wouldn't surprise me if big cats had escaped from captivity and adapted to the British countryside. In fact it's probably descended from one of Keith Moon's former pets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottish Mag 3 Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 I used to live in Helensburgh a few years back, it's more likely to be some local youth disguised as a panther in an attempt to rob somewhere. Thats where I am from, though I moved to the village next to it (Cardross) last year. A few of the "clique" were staying in Helensburgh for my wedding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wykikitoon 21493 Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 It just looks like a big domesticated cat to me. Well that's good enough for me. +1 Typical Pished Jock, its a cat! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 It just looks like a big domesticated cat to me. Well that's good enough for me. +1 Typical Pished Jock, its a cat! Is that even in question? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wykikitoon 21493 Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 It just looks like a big domesticated cat to me. Well that's good enough for me. +1 Typical Pished Jock, its a cat! Is that even in question? I meant a wikkle puddy cat Catmag, tell them! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Looks like a 5 tinner to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trophyshy 7095 Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 Looks like a 5 tinner to me. It would probably still need a Buckfast after that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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