Report from Reuel Chisholm
Hide and sheep
Worried farmer gives her flock a camouflage paint job
By Calum Macdonald in the Daily Record 11 th December 2003
THEY may look like an entry for the Turner Prize or a joke about hideous Christmas present jumpers but this flock has had a life-saving makeover. Farmer Charlotte Brayley has spraypainted her flock in camouflagepattern stripes to protect them from a suspected prowling panther.
The 21-year-old made patterned cardboard stencils then held them against the sheep while she painted them with spray cans at the farm outside Dalry in Ayrshire.
She explained: ''I read about the recent sightings of a black leopard or panther in the area.
''Then one night my mum was certain she spotted a huge black tail disappear into a hedge.
''There have been other sightingsaround Beith. These cats prey on sheep and there was no way I was going to allow any of mine to fall victim.
''It only took about 15 minutes to paint each one and they were quite content to have it done.
''It doesn't matter that the colours are bright. It is the patterns that are important because cats only see in black and white.''
Cats can distinguish few colours and rely on contrast and movement to identify objects.
They see better in darker conditions so they are skilled hunters at night.
In these conditions, striped camouflage, like that of a zebra, confuses cats because the contrasting bold stripes break up the shape of the zebra.
So the wacky colours on her sheep are just a bit of fun for Charlotte, who studies fine art and sculpture at Glasgow School of Art.
Now six of her sheep George, Ted, Beano, Fred and twins Finty and Barney sport green, red and purple fleeces.
There has been a spate of big cat sightings near the farm recently.
Lochwinnoch primary in Renfrewshire was put on high alert last month after reported sightings of a panther.
Two weeks later, there was a sighting of the beast in Johnstone, Renfrewshire.
Cleaner Mary O'Connor came face to face with it on a path and ripped her clothes on fencing as she fled in terror.
There have been over 200 sightings in Scotland of big cats this year.
Daily Record, 11 th December 2003
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