Big cat sighting in Helensburgh

Published 28 Jul 2009 13:13 8 Comments

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Have YOU seen a big cat - let us know!

HAS the Coulport Cougar moved to Helensburgh?

Has the disappearance of the big cat which was sighted on the Peninsula many times some years ago but has not been heard of since been explained by a photograph taken in Helensburgh recently?

Sightings of mysterious big cats in the British Isles used to be the stuff of myths and online chat rooms - the kind of thing which the average person on the street treated with a liberal pinch of salt.

However, with sightings in the UK stretching back almost one-hundred years, and a growing number of one-to-one encounters with the creatures being reported every year, it could be time to open our minds to the possibility of big cats on the loose.

And the latest sighting of one of the animals adds credence to the legends, as it not only happened on HM Naval Base Clyde's doorstep, near Churchill Estate in Helensburgh, but was spotted by a highly credible source - Ministry of Defence Police dog-handler PC Chris Swallow.

Chris, who stays in Helensburgh but is originally from Huddersfield, was helping a friend with their garden at Kildonan Drive, Helensburgh, back on June 30 when he spotted the creature.

"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," continued Chris, "I ran to my car to grab my mobile phone for a picture. I stood on the nearby 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.

"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."

Big cats have been spotted in the area before, with several sightings of the so-called "Coulport Cougar" being reported back in June of 2004.

At the time the creature was described as being tan and prowling the woods and hills at Loch Long, Portincaple, Whistlefield and next to the Coulport access road.

However, another creature, described as being black in colour, was also spotted at Garelochhead Training Camp, leading many to believe that there may also have been a panther in the area.

"Around two-years ago I received a telephone call from the Garelochhead Police," commented John Belshaw, HM Naval Base Clyde's Pest Control Officer.

"They asked me what I thought about the stories of big cats in the area and then told me they had seen one cross the road in front of them during the night. I think they were quite shaken by the whole experience and wanted reassurance."

John continued: "I have had a look at Chris' 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."

Speculation on where the creatures have come from has been rife, with many people believing that they could 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, however, Shaun Stevens, a National Researcher with Big Cats in Britain, believes that we could be looking at something different.

"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.

"I have a working theory that some of these cats may be a hybrid species or possibly a new species of cat," said Shaun.

"I myself have photographed a black hybrid cat of over 3.5 feet in length. Knowing the width of the rail tracks in Chris' video is four feet, eight and a half inches, the animal photographed by him is clearly in excess of four feet 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."

HAVE YOU SEEN A BIG CAT IN THE AREA? IF YOU HAVE, LET US KNOW VIA OUR WEBSITE.

Have your say. Post a comment on this article.

claire bradhsaw
Unregistered User
Aug 1, 00:47
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Me and my husband have hve just been out on a night out an our babysitter has just seen the cougar in our back garden and has taken a photo of it in lower churchill.

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Mr A Hyslop
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Aug 1, 13:23
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The cat in question is a very large domestic cat gone wild it has been around this area for a couple of years and can be seen in and around kircmicheal nursery school or indeed around townhead road .

i myself have seen this cat numerous times this cat has a distinctive swagger as they say exactly like the one in the footage which is taken across the fence where he hangs about .

People in the street no dought feed this cat and this probably keeps him hanging round if your lucky 2 see him you will recognise the swagger of this cat and probably will see where my theory comes from . well thats my assesment of the sighting hope im wrong because it would be nice for these annimals to be in and around ths beautifull scottish country that we live in .

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aisling
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Aug 6, 10:38
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My friend is the one how saw the cat and took the video he was amazed.

some people think its cougar

and some people think its a big cat

i think its something differant

perhaps its a panther

all i know is what ever it is they are now releasing them in the wild

only time will tell.

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wendianne
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Aug 7, 07:10
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ALL BE IT A LITTLE ODD., i think its great , just as long as it dos,nt become a threat to children playing out around the Churchhill area.,

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john whyte
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Aug 21, 18:02
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Its called an Adobecat if you would like to know, the Adobecat is part of a set of four, and is part of fourteen Adobecat clubs in Scotland.

http://www.pixeland.co.uk/photographs-wildlife/wildlife-photograph.html

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******
Aug 26, 20:43
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john whyte
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Aug 26, 20:58
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Can I ask if anyone has a clear photograph of the railway line adventure by Meika can you send me a copy please.

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james
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Feb 10, 18:17
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Your a minority in your own country...

Why worry if all of Indian Pakistand and Sudan bring thier own wild life too! Alas, in 30 years,England tradition and culture will be gone. WHy none homogenize the wildlife of the world.

No, put seriously.... I grew up roaming the creeks of Churchill, then Suffix, and I twice saw a cat like this but maybe even bigger. I don't know where they came from... Maybe thyey've always been there... Maybe long ago in the 1920's, '30's, lavish decedent types who occupied the bigger estates lost thier "darling babies" and a few got to breeding.... Wikipedia even sights that in the 70's it became a trend to have a big cat... Didn't know anyone who did, but I can imagine it.

We need a little mystery in what's left of old England.

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james
Unregistered User
Feb 10, 18:21
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Your a minority in your own country...

Why worry if all of India, Pakistan, Turky and Sudan bring thier own wild life too! Alas, in 30 years, England tradition and culture will be gone. Why none homogenize the wildlife of the world so people feel more at home.

No, put seriously.... I grew up roaming the creeks of Churchill, then Suffix, and I twice saw a cat like this but maybe even bigger. I don't know where they came from... Maybe thyey've always been there... Maybe long ago the 1920's, '30's, lavish decadent types who occupied the bigger estates lost thier "darling babies" and a few got to breeding in the thickets and the moors.... Wikipedia even sights that in the 70's it became a trend to have a big cat... Didn't know anyone who did, but I can imagine it.

There is a kind of brooding conciousness out there.

We need a little mystery in what's left of old England.

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