Trail cams have been set up in the Cumbria countryside following a reported sighting of a big cat and her cub.

A report came into a dedicated Big Cats Facebook group that a couple spotted the feline, described as a ‘large black cat’, alongside her cub.

The myth of the elusive ‘Beast of Cumbria’ is believed to have started when big cats kept as pets in the 1970s were released due to licensing changes.

Big cat expert Sharon Larkin-Snowden, who discovered Panthera DNA on a sheep’s carcass in Cumbria in May of this year, posted the latest sighting reported to be by a couple in the group.

The post read: "Exciting news! We have had a few reports of a large black cat and her cub. Both look well and healthy. We now know her whereabouts (lair) and are setting up many trail cams in the vicinity in hope of capturing footage of mum and cub.

  • ᴇᴍᴘᴇʀᴏʀ 帝OPMAEnglish
    1·
    29 days ago

    I’m still unsure where I stand on ABCs - it seemed plausible not long after the licensing changes but we are now a couple of generations down the line and there would have to be established breeding populations which would be difficult to hide in the managed British countryside. However, these amateur efforts seem to be turning up intriguing evidence. It’s going to need a much more rigorous effort to properly nail this down but trail cams are a good start. We’ll see where it goes.

    Aldi Beast of Cumbria is a terrible name. Beast of Bodmin has alliteration going for it. Perhaps Big Cat of Cumbria?