'Big cat' fear after deer found devoured in the Cotswolds

A big cat is believed to have been on the prowl in a village in the Cotswolds. A picture has been taken of a roe deer which is believed to have been killed and eaten by a big cat

The picture shows the deer found in Painswick. with only its head and rear legs left as the rest of body and organs have been consumed. Another image shows where the hair from the coat of the deer has been ripped out, which is said to be similar to the work of a big cat after killing their prey before devouring the creature.

The graphic images, which are included in edited form further down this article, were sent to big cat and wildlife enthusiast Frank Tunbridge. He believes the deer was killed by a 'big cat' as there are clear signs of how the animal died.

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Frank, 78, from Podsmead said: "Where there's something to eat there's something to eat it. It is an old survival maxim which applies right across the natural world, and all wild creatures exist by this rule.

"On October 24, I received an email with photo attachments of a small roe deer which had been freshly killed. Much of it had been consumed in a manner relating to a large cat like animal.

"Signs of the deer being killed by a big cat include bite marks to the throat, large amount of internal organs eaten, and the ribcage licked clean. The hair of the deer had been plucked away before the carnivore started its meal.

"The killing and consumption exhibited by the signs of a roe deer are typical of a British big cat or a lynx. Which there is a viable population throughout the UK.

"These cats, which are often described as similar to black leopards and pumas are sighted on a regular basis in all parts of the UK, and generally in rural areas, and are often seen in semi urban areas on the edge of towns. Where small deer such as muntjac and roe exist, basically, where the deer go the cats will not be far behind.

"Successful carnivores generally need a large home range to keep their larders full, and these British big cats can cover many miles between dusk and dawn in their quest for food and mates. like many wild species, they change their habitat accordingly between the summer months of plenty, and the harsher times of winter.

"Every year, as the weather changes to colder days and frosty nights, generally from early November, I often receive reports of small deer carcasses, generally roe deer, killed and consumed in the manner of a large felid. The one featured in this picture here is no exception.

"The image was sent to me by a man working near a large estate in Painswick, Gloucestershire, and was quite fresh when he discovered it. Unfortunately he was requested to move it, so no chance to set up a trail camera nearby, in case the killer returned.

"As can be seen in many videos a large majority of these elusive 'big cats' are the result of hybridisation, and in many cases are now successfully breeding true to type, after the 1976 Dangerous animals act. The act caused owners to dump and release their large exotic pets across the UK, due to the stringent restrictions imposed.

"Living on the edge, of towns and villages has now become common place for many species of wildlife, herbivores and carnivores alike, who are attracted by the abundance of an easy meal created by the residents. They are scavenging and this is often more successful than foraging and hunting for your next meal.

"Where there's something to eat, there's something to eat it."

If you would like to speak to Frank in confidence about any big cat sightings in the UK, please email Frank on franktunbridge@hotmail.co.uk