The sighting of what is thought to be a big cat near Lynbottom Tip on the outskirts of Newport has caused a stir this afternoon (Saturday).
Clare Short has taken to social media to say that her and her whole family spotted the animal, described as being bigger than a Labrador, in the vicinity of Downend.
However, no photographic evidence of this big cat has been offered.
Clare says:
“We got a really good look at it climbing up the hill. It was bigger than a Labrador and had a big thick long tail. My husband tried to get a picture but it went into the long grass.
The unusual situation has prompted Clare to ask where she needs to tell anyone official about the sighting.
Have you spotted anything similar in the area? Comment below…
Attention seeker more like lol 🙂
And you, by such a comment, are NOT?
weave ad sheep touk
a dog afeared in woods
sumit stalks the plaic
atter nigh seen thing in dark
‘kin hell mate how old are you..no schooling?
At least he doesn’t need to swear to make his point. So one could ask you, no breeding?
Is that Robbie Burns that you are quoting? If so, pray tell me fr0m which of his works do the words come? Thankee Gentle-man farmer.
This is only moments away from Brading for such a quick nimble beast, so I wonder now if those sheep which were mutilated and blamed by dogs, were in fact this huge creature.
We need it caught before we walk anywhere near the area now.
Whilst the sheep issue was awful, think how close this savage beast is to the adventure park opposite the tip.
It is lucky it is in lock down, for the sound of squealing children having fun may attract it thinking it an injured animal.
This needs an expert to check its foot prints before that place is allowed to re open.
Surely blood hounds could trace it back to it’s lair?
These animals as beautiful as they are, can tear a throat out in a second.
We need a marksman with a stun gun with rubber bullets and some bait to tempt it out, as we have enough to worry about with unseen death stalking us all now.
Such sad stereo typing… would be highly unlikely that this or any wild animal would attack a human unless provoked, as I know some people would for fun, then lie and say it attacked out of nowhere… yeah right, as if !!
had evidence of a black Puma / Panther being very near humans especially a baby think the distance was about 6 to 8 ft and it just looked
at them and jumped back over the wall like it was scared of humans and it was a long victorian 12 ft high brick walked garden .
Stun gun and rubber bullets?! IF this is a genuine sight which I very much doubt a tranquilliser dart is what you need. Just out of interest if the zoo is not missing one how did it get here? Those ferries will let anyone travel in lockdown!!
It isnt stalking anyone. Stop trying to sensationalise it. There isnt even concrete proof such a thing exists (although yes, thry probably do).
Where would it have escaped from? Surely the zoo would inform the police if it is from there?
Do they children’s park opposite have wild animals there? They used to keep some wild creatures years ago as the meerkats escaped and they also had a ‘snake pit’ but nothing this exotic.
Maybe Amazon world should be checked out first?
Don’t allow you children anywhere near the place by themselves and carry a huge stick with you just in case.
Where did it escape from? Its naturalised. They are now living and breeding here.
A lot of that occurring now, with dire consequences for indigenous creatures which have evolved without such savage forms of life to contend and compete with.
At least we are free to comment on the folly of such animals being released here atm.
Ann, I have seen a full grown deer at Gatcombe on a foot path only last Summer, so large non indigenous creatures can and do live here.
nice find… bet it was an amazing sight. Kn way that animal would attack, but.. Was someone chasing it with a big stick..???
I wish… but sadly from comments on here, people would be too afraid, and would taunt them and kill them…
people on here are so damned annoying they wouldn’t know the truth if it hit them they probably don’t believe that covid is real either ….
Naturalised from where and when? It’s not a big cat probably a dog.
I guess it’s human counterparts have, so it is feasible. Think the Panther is less of an issue for us all.
That’s right try to scare to public into something that probably is not there.. idiots… remember fear attracts.. if we lived like you, we would all be carrying big sticks and guns.. so sad. Could have been you slaughtering those sheep for all we know… practicing with you big stick !
Yay, so, the big pussy returns. Last saw it 12 years ago at the bottom of our garden at Wootton. Was able to verify its height as I saw it against a corrugated iron fence and its head was 27″ from the ground according to the height of the fence. Also saw it in long grass near Arreton Manor same sort of time.
I saw it or one like it about 15 years ago crossing the military road from the crest of the hill above Compton, definitely a cat, moved swiftly with little movement of the body as it walked, down the bank, across the road and up the other side, it was the middle of the day too. An awesome sight.
Probably a Labrador.
You walk up there alone tonight then Bob. Take clean undies.
I would, but remember the rules STAY HOME…. searching for a maybe wild animal is non essential..
We need an expert to check its poo to see what animal this really is.
Wouldn’t have any difficulty in checking mine mate, if that thing suddenly rushed out of a hedge or woods towards me!
Haaaaa Haaaaaa!!!!!!!!
Not much chance of that unless it did not know you were there and was running from guy with big stick !!
Nor mine, as there would be a trail from the point of sighting right back to the car.
I do have rather a fast and loose ‘system’ as it is.
I think Chris Pakman is an expert of wild beasts droppings so he ought to be involved as something to do with the zoo at Sandown I hear.
Bring on Chris packham he’ll sort it out!!
no photos, so anything is possible… how about one of those extra large imported domestic cats.. they are huge..
Can’t think how such an animal could be living wild but it prompts me to remember what I saw and heard on a walk some 45 years ago .
I was walking along the footpath beside the railway line at Ashey.
The otherside of the footpath was roughland then fields .
As I walked I heard the sound of hissing almost horselike .
I also saw a large black Dog/ cat/ ?? Run across the fields graceful but fast .
maybe a hell hound or ghost dog
Hopefully you did not start chase with big stick !!
If you have small children as we do, what on earth would you do then, put down a tin of katomeat?
8 out of 10 prefer it, or is that wiskers?
Mind compared to a chubby, squeaky voiced, running warm child, best not to take any chances until this is either proven or exposed as a hoax.
This if true needs to be investigated by Ray Meers or Bear Grills as his Mum lives at Bembridge, only a few minutes away to such a large powerful creature.
I don’t think they get on though, I mean Bear and his mum nor Ray Meers.
Bear grylls is not a naturalist. He’s a survival expert . Completely different thing. He doesn’t specialise in big cats or any wildlife just how to survive by drinking your own pee!!
Sorry bad spelling, WILD animals that was supposed to be.. new fangled ideas, spell check.. seems wrong, often putting in extra or wrong words..
We used to be able to edit bad spelling or wrong words, that seems to have gone now???
What is your obsession with big sticks!
Some bright spark mentioned carry a big stick..
Seems reasonable protection if your dog or child was being dismembered whilst you looked on helpless otherwise?
There is a GOOD reason that bars on on Zoo’s when these large cats are imprisoned.
I dislike intensely the idea of taking animals such as this and keeping them in this cold, wet, gloomy land, but I will carry a stick IF I ever go to the park with the children or down land walks with our two dogs again until this is captured.
I have contact details for the countries top investigator into sightings, I’m happy for you to pass my email address onto Clare
Surely the fire brigade deal with this sort of thing, like cats stuck in trees and rescuing horses.
A large net after drenching it with a hose pipe rather than ending its one and only life may be possible.
This is hardly in the same league as Mrs Timbles Tabby stuck in a tree. This would rip your insides out in a second if you cornered it. Needs tranqualising dart marksman.
Drugged meat could be used. A stack of Mc D’s burgers with some chloroform may do the trick.
Certainly seems to work on most of the clientele.
So dont corner it then.
Sadly if this is hiding in a bush, then it could pounce out if suddenly disturbed by a dog or something. Few would be silly enough to deliberately corner it. Fear will make it attack to protect itself. Hopefully will be traced and captured soon now. Easy to track in the snow.
The fire brigade ? Wtf do you think they are ,trained yes but not in this sort of field .
Hold on I’m going to to put a BA set on and me gloves for this one lol
Mouse, doubt they are trained to pull a horse out of mud, but they do that many times and are really versatile guys rescuing cats on lamp posts and stuff.
A powerful hose blasted at it would harmlessly knock it over and they could throw an old fishing net over it whilst it is gasping for air from the safe high platform on the fire engines ladder.
Use some initiative man
Once ensnared in the net they could drive it dangling to Sandown Zoo and hydrolically lift it over the wall and drop it in a cage and charge visitors to annoy the poor beast until a merciful death ends its daily torment.
YI man, with such vision, you must be both head hunted by the fire service and animal welfare charities.
That or a retro comedy sketch writer from the 70’s.
An old fishing net, with a wet angry, sharp clawed snarling beast being swung from side to side from an extended ladder on one of our Fire Engines, over the Downs road to Sandown would likely go viral for all the wrong reasons.
Another mysterious sighting, like the spectral hound or the hairy hand.
the hands reel
mate seed it ryde
flotin mid air on a lane
scard ee i tel ee.
Told you, they’re just not policing the ferries strictly enough.
Ha ha !! I can see those that use the ferries, cautiously opening the boot of their vehicle, with a big stick in hand, in case one hiding in there…..
What’s wrong with you lot? It’s an animal, we are in his or hers territory, what right do we have. It’s not ideal having something like this out there but killing it can be avoided.
Lol in its territory? You know that if there was a big cat out there then its thousands of miles away from what would be its territory!
Not if it was born here mate… like those sea eagles… I keep looking for someone jumping up at them with a big stick… ha ha ha !! Oh Big Eagles.. don’t let children out… ha ha ha ha
A dog giving birth in a stable STILL has puppy dogs NOT foals.
Still as dangerous an animal dumb and as with others more so out of it’s natural place where they are happier with more food, and decent climate
With no stupid humans that have no idea !!
Oh, what a coincidence. I was out walking today and saw an elephant, but before I could take a picture it disappeared behind a tree.
But you captured its trunk on your phone I expect.
Hate to break it to you but you’ll never catch one of these big cats. There has been reports and photos and videos dating back to the 80s or big cats roaming the island. So if they have been lurking in the shadows since then and don’t think they will show themself or give up easily. I’ve had friends and family see black panthers and big cats in different part of the island so wouldn’t surprise me if this was a true sighting.
Stop smoking funny stuff
Back in the nineteen eighties, my mother and I witnessed a shiny black creature with a loose pelt and a long tail hurtle accross Alexandra road on the outskirts of Ryde. At the time there were numerous reports of big cats loose in Britain as the law on keeping such animals had been changed and it was believed that many had been released into the wild by their owners.
That was Dereck Sandy trailing his microphone. He used to live there I think.
I saw Big Foot around Parkhurst yesterday evening..can you publish my story?
Sorry, that was me. Not had a shower for a few days. 😀
Oooo .I’m s h ittn a brick now.funny
If be can be obv
Just as likely to see two lions at Knighton!!
I drive for a waste disposal company, and I saw 2 big cats on the landfill site last week, well about the size of a domestic cat. But both were black. Perhaps she had magnifying glasses on!
Wakanda forever!
What nonsense.
I remember when I was a child and growing up in wootton, my brother and myself were out playing in the woods in wootton probably about 20 years ago. I can honestly say we heard growling and hissing, we bolted on our bikes straight away. This was no dog, scared the sh*t out of us.
back in 70s i saw a black Puma /Panther its eyes shone green in the headlights and it also jumped over my friends 12ft brick garden wall they were having a picnic and her baby was on a rug this animal looked at her and then baby and jumped ba k over the wall again this was in Odiham Hampshire and Hartley Whitney, at the time the government were stopping private zoos and many owners just let out in thecountryside late ì 70s a security guard at Warners in Wootton saw a lioness and a wallaby was running around i think the Ryde are so these sightings fi happen but i think if would be scared of humans as the one in Odiham didn’t charge it just looked and jumped back over the wall
So these people believe in a black panther, but not a worldwide pandemic!!
errm I believe there’s a real life threatening pandemic but that doesn’t mean I’m bloody well lying .i hate lies .and i did see that black puma ….too !
A while ago there were reports of a kangaroo being seen in Austria. The authorities believed that it may have been dyslexic.
Brilliant!!
These animals are very dangerous, and CCTV at the lyn tip should be viewed to see if it shows up on there.
This is too close to the adventure park to just trust to luck it won’t one day savage or run off with a small child.
I imagine that the park must too have CCTV and surely it is not too much trouble for staff to view it over the last couple of days and nights to check if it is sighted prowling the site for food?
If you go to wikipedia and look up UK big cats a lot of people have seen them and several been attacked by such, so take care if out walking alone, or if you dogs or small children run ahead. A loud Whistle may help scare it enough to drop you dog or child if it leapt out on them. Easy to carry.
Can’t post link as site not allowed to but easy to find yourselves.
Maybe it’s come to spend lockdown in its second home
I remembering seeing it in my backyard (Farm near Robin Hill) in 2010
check out Bestival big cat on you tube
Large house cat frightens locals
One more time Dougal.
These are small. Those are far away.
Wow if this is actually true then who’s up for a game of headhunters last one alive wins ♂️
Some of the the comments on here from the blood thirsty bumpkin big game hunters and the ignorant.
Oh my what uneducated fools.
They are shy creatures and have the intelligence to avoid humans wherever possible.
This ledgend of big cats roaming the island goes back the 80s from memory, been unearthed again for a bit entertainment possibly?
That said, if there is a big cat out there, for God sake leave it alone, it hasn’t killed anyone, and i doubt it would.
“Doubt” is hardly a comfort to us parents when kiddies run around excited in the play park.
My partner said the same thing on a walk last Saturday only she said she saw a big black wolf.
This was about 3pm on the outskirts of Newport.
I laughed and didnt bother to turn around and said she was trying to fool me.
I kinda regret is I didn’t had a look, however she swears she saw something and this story confirmed it.
If this big black cat is out there would you not think that having Bridlesford farm right on his doorstep so to speak that they would of lost young calf’s or even had a cow attacked it’s the nearest site for food , and these sheep that have been attacked this animal wouldn’t eat it in the middle of a field it would take it up a tree to consume and save some for later they don’t just leave it lying around this story has been going around for years but no one has every seen it to catch it and why not more dead sheep or cowes this would need to kill a sheep every 2-3 days .
IF it lives in the robin-hill-park woodlands, or Combley woods, then to an animal that prowls around a huge distance, the Tip would provide an easy source of discarded food and rats. The downs and grass land of the children’s adventure area will provide countless rabbits, so little need for it to devour the protective mothers of Sheep or Calves.
This is a predator and will take the easy option for food, just hope it is caught soon before the parks lockdown ends. CCTV footage should be studied by an independent person for it is in their interest to keep such quiet IF it resides or hunts there, as few caring parents would risk young children anywhere near its feeding area.
The tip CCTV needs looking at by their staff, as it ought to be on there should the rubbish pile be covered.
I have actually seen a very large black cat recently when I was driving through Ryde, it was as big as a dog and jet black. Thought I had just been mistaken as I only caught a sight of it for a few seconds.
Saw it for a few seconds, big as a dog.
So why would you think it was a cat? Why would you not think it was a dog? After all you only saw it for a few seconds.
Why does everyone doubt others viewings?
Humans are well able to usually tell a cat from a dog, even if they are the same size, and in the near dark.
So, if Catherine has thought something large which looked UN dog like, BUT cat like then it is likely she has seen something odd.
Why else would she bother to say so, knowing the reception she would get on here.
This is WHY so much goes unreported.
She doesn’t say anything about it being dark, just that she saw it for a few seconds and it was the size of a dog and jet black coloured.
Most people seeing that would think they saw a black dog.
Why would anyone doubt what she saw for a couple of seconds whilst driving?
I drove past a toddler dressed in a green coat the other week. Only saw it for a few seconds, it looked like a toddler but when someone puts up a story about leprichorn sightings maybe I can claim I saw something different.
?? The point is as you give the example of, many of us drive quickly past thousands of people yearly, including a few children dressed in green, yet our brains don’t ‘automatically’ assume it is a an Irish Pixie.
Even when we see a person say in fancy dress, or face paint or behaving in a strange way we don’t bother to shout on social media that we have seen anything very strange as our brains deduce the fact that whilst someone may have an alien suit on, the way they move, the vibes or whatever show that they are just a ‘dressed up’ human.
So, for someone to see and report a large cat the size of a large dog, is reason enough to give some benefit of doubt.
We all know that there are many liars, dreamers, and people wishing to gain attention or have a ‘laugh’ at others trusting naive and gullible nature, and many discontent with the world, ‘wish’ to have something paranormal, to give them ‘hope’ that ‘this’ is not just ‘it’, and there is more to their dull, unhappy, unfulfilled life.
Yet seeing a large cat is not impossible and I trust no one, but by dissing every report is as ignorant as believing every report.
All I am saying is someone who has access to CCTV can sit on their butt and whizz through recent footage at the childrens park or the tip and try to find something
No. It really isnt reason to give someone benefit of the doubt. Someone seeing an animal the size of a dog for a couple of seconds should be thinking that its a dog.
Frankly, the only reason this woman has said she saw a black cat in Ryde is because this story appeared.
Had she seriously thought that she saw a big black cat in Ryde, she would have reported this to the police immediately (I would hope) as her first thought should have been that there could be a dangerous wild animal loose close to or in a residential area.
But no, she waited until someone else made a claim of seeing a big black cat, then claimed she had seen the same. Neither of these people, nor anyone else commenting here has produced any evidence to back up their claims, and most admit that it could easily have been something else that they saw. Absolutely no benifit of the doubt for claims made in the comments section of a tabloid news website.
I wonder how long it will be before someone claims Freddie Star ate their hamster.
Story and comments a load of old drivel!!! Surely more important things to report and comment on , someone will be seeing Bigfoot next !