Is this yet another mysterious big cat attack?

A SAVAGED sheep carcass bears hallmarks of another big cat attack, say experts — and this time it’s close to the town centre.

Farmer Richard Webster found his prize ewe dead in the corner of his 34 acre field in Ashbourne Green on Friday morning and immediately suspected a big dog had been in with his 41 ewes and 71 lambs.

Closer inspection of the carcass reveals tell-tale signs of a big cat kill, and the attack bears a striking resemblance to one in Hognaston in November last year.

Mark Fraser, from Big Cats in Britain, said the pictures didn’t provide conclusive evidence that the wounds were caused by a cat and not a dog, but said it was an interesting case.

He said: "It’s always difficult with livestock kills judge anything after a few hours, as you’d need to get to the carcass before the scavengers.

"Cats do usually go for the neck, and because they lick bones instead of chew them they are often very clean kills, but to be honest I have seen dog kills like this before."

Traces of blood and a clawmark were spotted on the high wooden fence surrounding the field, indicating the animal leapt over it to slink away in to the night.

Despite dozens of sightings, carcasses, and even reports of a wild cat attacking a farmer’s dogs right in front of him, there is still no hard evidence a big cat is roaming the area.

http://www.ashbournenewstelegraph.co.uk/ashbournenewstelegraph-news/displayarticle.asp?id=412604