Report from Mike Inglis
Two puma-like animals seen at Glencoe
about 14 th May 1992
I trust that you don't mind me making contact with you, but I have had a life long interest in big cats.
Last week I was passed a news item from the Sunday Post and, I thought that you may be interested in an experience I had in 1992 whilst photographing Golden Eagles in Argyle. The eyrie I was filming being located behind the Papps of Glencoe.
Prior to setting up my photography hide, for some reason I decided to my binoculars towards the top of Meall Garbh which over looked the small glen I was working in at that time. Incidentally, I was looking for soaring eagles not cats. I was amazed when in my field of view, but admittedly at a great distance, I saw the forms of two very unusual sleek and agile animals playing and jumping at one another. This was I think about 14 th May on a bright sunny day with blue sky. Both animals were slightly lighter in colour than a red deer hind. However, the most interesting and significant thing from my point of view, was the fact that both animals had long slender tails, which they were swishing about over their bodies in a vertical plain. They were not foxes, the distance was too far, plus the colour was wrong and these animals were large. I would say that they were each half the height, or a little more, of a hind. Since that day I have always been totally convinced that what I saw could only have been two large puma.
The other interesting thing, a bird watching friend that lives at Kinlochleven, also saw a black cat like animal through his telescope on the slope of Garbh Bheinn above Kinlochleven which he described as a panther looking animal. He was even able to mark the spot when the animal passed below a large tree/ he walked up to the tree and was able to ascertain that the animal was larger than an Alsatian dog at the shoulder. Paw prints have also been found all around Loch Treig and further north in the Ben Alders.
I trust this information may be of interest to you.
Regards
Terry Pickford
North West Raptor Group
about 14 th May 1992
 |
 |
 |
|
| Return to index | Return to Scottish Big Cats | Return to the Highlands | Return to 1992 |