Report from Reuel Chisholm
In fact, the cat found near Peterhead was most probably a large domestic or feral cat, and while Mrs Doris Moore was almost certainly attacked by some kind of animal, it seems highly improbable that any species of felid was responsible.
Chris Smith.
The Purr-fect Place to Spot a Big Cat
From the Evening Express, 13 th September 2003
The North-east has become Britain's unofficial big-cat capital.
Scores of sightings of panthers, pumas and lynx have been made from Macduff
to the Mearns.
Wildlife experts believe that large, non-native cats are roaming our glens
and forests.
And tourism chiefs hope the mystery beasts could prove to be a Nessie-style
attraction for visitors.
In July, Kathleen Smith of Belhelvie came face-to-face with a puma-like
beast.
She spotted the jet-black animal at Parkhill on her way to work at Aberdeen
Airport.
In June, hillwalker Raymond Dougherty photographed a black Alsatian-sized
feline near Braemar.
In January, accountant Denise McPhie encountered a 6ft long, mountain
lion-like cat on the driveway of her Kintore home.
Last summer, a carcass of mystery big cat was found in a ditch near
Peterhead. Baffled boffins believed it may have been a North-American bobcat.
Last February, school driver Doug Riley saw a black "Labrador-sized" feline
walk in front of his bus near Kemnay. The creature left large prints in the
snow.
In January 2002, Doris Moore was pounced on and bitten by a panther-like
animal.
The Insch resident claimed the dark beast grabbed hold of her leg and bit her
on the thigh.
She gouged the feline assailant several times with her car keys before it let
go.
In 2001, farmers blamed the Beast of Bin for a series of sheep-slaying in the
Huntly area.
One 40-kilo ewe was dragged 100 metres across a field before being devoured
and picked clean.
Scientists at the Scottish Agricultural College examined the carcass and
concluded in a lab report that "a large, non-native cat" was responsible.
A spokesman for the Scottish Big Cat Society said sightings across Grampian
had risen dramatically in recent years.
"No longer are you classed as belonging to the lunatic fringe in reporting
such matters," he said.
Animal experts at the Royal Museum in Edinburgh also "refused to rule out"
the idea of pockets of big cats being at large in the North-east.
Earlier this year Grampian Tourist Board marketing manager boss Charles
Currie wanted to use the sightings to claw back visitors.
"It is a bit like the Loch Ness Monster," he said.
"People can come here and try to spot our big cats."
Most experts believe the raft of cat sightings stem from 70s legislation
which outlawed the ownership of large, wild animals as pets.
It is believed dozens of exotic beasts were released into the wild and have
thrived.
Aberdeen Evening Express, 4 th September 2003
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