Cutting from Ralph Barnett via George Markie
Claims of big cat sighting
From the Dundee Courier 27 th January 2000
AN ABERNYTE farmer who claimed yesterday he saw two black puma big cats with tails two feet long chasing sheep in his field may have re-opened the long running debate on the existence of big cats in the area.
While most sightings over the past few years have been in north Fife and Angus, Graharn AndersonÕs sightings yesterday afternoon will spark speculation that the mysterious creatures have migrated to the Dundee area.
Mr Anderson (65), who has lived in the area since the age of five and is a farmer at Newton Gray Farm near Abernyte, said, "I saw two cats bounding over the dyke in one of my fields.
"First of all I saw the sheep running away across the field so I went over to see what was going on.
"Then I saw the cats coming - they stopped when they saw me and whenever I moved they just took off.
I never believed it about the cats but I believe it now. A year or two ago a neighbour of mine thought they saw a puma but I haven't heard anything at all about big cats since then.
"I've lived in the area most of my life and . know a wild cat when I see one. These things were four or maybe six times the size of a wild cat.
"ThereÕs no doubt in my mind what I saw were pumas.
"After I saw them they took off into a neighbouring field and disappeared."
There have been many sightings of cats in areas of north-east Fife and Angus.
Last month a sheepÕs leg was discovered near the starter's box at the Ashludie links in Monifieth, prompting more puma speculation - but the Abernyte area has never been associated with big cat activity.
A spokesman for Tayside Police said they had had no reports of puma sightings in the area yesterday.
Dundee Courier: 27 th January 2000
 |
 |
 |
| Return to index | Return to Scottish Big Cats | Return to Perth & Kinross |