Report from George Markie
Mabie mystery caught on camera
From the Dumfries and Galloway Standard, May 18 th 2001
An unidentified black "creature" has been spotted in the vicinity of Mabie Farm Park.
Creeping through the undergrowth, the cat-like animal was spotted by first-time visitors to the region, Matthew and Fiona Ashley, and their 15-month-old son Thomas.
And Matthew, an IT consultant from Sheffield, even managed to capture the "Monster of Mabie" on his camcorder.
"We were just sitting eating our sandwiches when I looked up and saw a black cat at the top of the hill about 150 yards away," he said.
"I watched it for a while and then when I realised the size of it, I got my camcorder out.
"I thought to myself 'this is no ordinary cat'. It was too big and did not walk like a domestic cat." His parents, Jeanette and Roy, also witnessed the animal.
Mabie Farm Park owner, Alan Shuttleworth, said there had been sightings of a creature last year. He added that they had lost several ducks, geese and turkeys in the last few months and he had originally put it down to foxes.
"I am not 100 percent convinced from the video evidence," he said. "But it would have had to have been a fair size to draw their attention to it and we have lost a lot of ducks recently which I originally put down to foxes, but you never know." Police wildlife liaison officer, Sergeant Jim McColm, said: "I would not rule out the possibility that it could be a puma but at the same time feral and wild cats can grow quite big and can adopt the mannerisms of the larger members of the cat family."
Below - Matthew Ashley and son Thomas who caught a mystery 'creature' on camera this week during their first visit to the region. Inset is the grainy image of the animal that they saw near Mabie Farm Park which has prompted speculation as to what exactly it might be (not available, sorry).
Dumfries and Galloway Standard, May 18 th 2001
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