Big Cat Sightings in 1978 |
Date |
Location |
Description |
Activity |
Report |
30 th January |
Conon Bridge, near Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty |
'Lioness or a puma'. Dark tan, tail and back darker.Very heavy shoulders and hindquarters, tail curved upwards and curled at tip, stomach sagged. |
Seen in field at 100 yeards by witness had seen big cats when living in Central Africa. Police took casts of prints. |
 |
30 th January |
Cononbridge, near Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty |
Large paw-prints, 3-4" long and clearly showed extended claws (suggests dog) |
Found in farm a mile away from above sighting. Police took casts of prints. |
 |
late January - early February |
Swordly, near Bettyhill, Caithness |
Screeching noises heard |
Heard by crofter and his family familiar with countryside noises. |
 |
late January - early February |
10 miles east of Bettyhill, Caithness |
Large puma-like animal |
Seen by female motorist. |
 |
late January - early February |
Near Bettyhill, Caithness |
Large black cat, size of Labrador |
Three sightings by group of hunters including a policeman. |
 |
February |
Baligill, Melvich, Sutherland |
Cat |
|
Mick Orsi |
8 th February |
Wick, Caithess |
Sheep carcass examined |
Believed to have been killed by big cat. |
 |
November |
Blaich, Loch Eil, Inverness-shire |
Cat |
|
Mick Orsi |
November |
Kelty, Fife |
Cat |
|
Mick Orsi |
November |
Guisachen Forest |
Cat |
|
Mick Orsi |
27 th November |
between Aultnagar and Invershin, Sutherland |
Black all over, a bit bigger than a labrador, definitely cat-like |
Near road bounding away |
 |
late November |
nr Lairg, Sutherland |
Three sheep killed |
One sheep partially eaten with ribs crushed |
 |