Is it a puma? Is it a leopard? Whatever it’s, filmmakers have uncovered a picture of a ‘huge cat’ stalking the British countryside.
The massive feline was snapped in Kent and its neck muscle, ear form and tail just isn’t that of a home breed, specialists declare.
It is assumed it could possibly be latest proof of massive cats in Britain and could possibly be a uncommon dwarf breed referred to as a ‘pumapard’.
They are a cross between a leopard and a puma or cougar – and have beforehand been born in captivity.
Both male cougar with feminine leopard and male leopard with feminine cougar pairings have produced offspring.
The photograph, taken in 2013, has been unearthed by makers of the brand new documentary Panthera Britannia Declassified.
It has the specialists cut up, with a number of claiming it exhibits one thing totally different to your typical pet moggy.
Andrew Hemmings, affiliate professor of Equine Science at Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester, mentioned its dimensions recommend it isn’t a home cat.
He mentioned: ‘The developed neck musculature and curvature of the tail each recommend one thing apart from Felis Catus.
‘Scaling is troublesome however this doesn’t look like of grownup leopard measurement.
‘It is, nonetheless, solely believable that populations of leopard-sized felids may have grow to be smaller over a number of generations, possibly in response to pure genetic choice imposed by a prey-base of smaller animals equivalent to rabbits.
‘It would make good evolutionary sense to adapt to a plentiful, low danger species such because the rabbit.’
One concept of how huge cats arrived within the UK is the unregulated unique pet commerce of the final days of the British Empire.
Leopards have been imported from Africa and Asia and pumas or cougars from the Americas.
Experts imagine each species have been launched into our countryside.
Appearing within the documentary skilled animal tracker Rhoda Watkins, speculates that this might presumably be a ‘pumapard’.
Sarah Hartwell, proprietor of web site The MessyBeast, mentioned: ‘The puma and leopard hybrids have been smaller than both father or mother, however most appeared to have died as juveniles so we do not know their ultimate measurement.
‘The ear form is the massive giveaway. Big cats all have rounded ears.
‘Domestics, and their family within the Lybica household, have triangular ears – vast on the base and narrowing on the tip.’
Monster hunter James ‘Bobo’ Fay agrees with Professor Hemmings.
He mentioned: ‘I’ve seen 4 mountain lions prior to now month; I see them on a regular basis in California.
‘It possesses traits related to the North American cougar. It’s undoubtedly not a bobcat.
‘The tail seems cougar-like to me and it appears extra muscular than a home cat, however my total impression is that I’m a big home dominant hybrid.’
Big cat researcher Kevin Steele runs the Real Big Cats In Kent Facebook group.
He mentioned: ‘There have been quite a few sightings of massive cats in Kent now over a number of a long time.
‘I do know the situation the place the photograph was taken and sightings are reported from that space very often.’
Panthera Britannia Declassified by Dragonfly Films is available to purchase and lease on Amazon Prime, Apple TV and Google TV.
