A big cat – or cats – could be prowling around a beautiful wooded valley in Gloucestershire run by the National Trust, the charity has revealed.
Experts are carrying out DNA tests on the remains of a roe deer found at the trust's Woodchester Park, near Stroud.
A walker came upon the carcass and thought injuries to the deer's neck and the way the body had been consumed suggested it had been killed by a big predator.
There have long been whispers of big cats at large in Gloucestershire, but the fact the National Trust is taking this discovery seriously adds to the credibility of the stories.
David Armstrong, the National Trust head ranger for the Gloucestershire countryside, said: "The deer was found close to Woodchester Park in an area where there is nice beech woodland sloping down to pastures below.
"With only one footpath, although it is popular with dog walkers, there is plenty of space for wildlife to live relatively undisturbed. There are 120 hectares of woodland nearby at Woodchester and both areas provide a good habitat for large numbers of deer, both roe and muntjac.
"There are some very occasional sightings of big cats in the Cotswolds but they have wide territories, so are rarely present in one particular spot for long. We'd be interested to hear of any more sightings at Woodchester."
Robin Allaby, associate professor at the school of life sciences at the University of Warwick, has visited the kill site to examine the evidence and take DNA samples from the wounds of the deer. The results of his tests are expected at the end of January.
Rick Minter, author of a book on the mystery of the UK's big cats, called Big Cats: Facing Britain's Wild Predators, said: "It is very helpful to have this forensic study of the deer carcass. The consistent feedback I receive from people about possible big cats is that the animals should be studied, so we can learn about the subject.
"Studying likely evidence such as this will help us become more informed. Local people who watched the carcass being examined appreciated that this was being studied in a responsible manner and that they are to be kept closely informed about the matter through their local newsletter and a forthcoming meeting.
"Although people occasionally report a possible big cat from a distance, close-up encounters with such cats are rare. Their hearing and movement are exceptional, which helps them avoid close contact with people. In the event of a close-up encounter you should stay calm and face towards the animal as you back off, but not threaten or aggravate it. The chances are it will have backed off very quickly first."
The trust says the main candidates for the larger types of big cats being reported in Britain are puma-type cats and panthers.
Woodchester Park is a tranquil wooded valley containing remains of an 18th- and 19th-century landscape park with a chain of five lakes.
Any sightings or possible evidence on National Trust land can be reported by email to nature@nationaltrust.org.uk.
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