Staffs Cats

Sightings are continuing to eminate from North Saffordshire of a panther like animal, the UPIA with the assistance of the Evening Sentinal, BBC Radio Stoke, Signal Radio, The Leek times and post, the Cheadle times and post, teh RSPCA, Staffs Police and Scottish Big Cats group, are continuing to monitor the environment, with the hope of finding evidence of the events and assist in the protection of the Animal(s) and public.

The above image was taken on 05/03/07 by a witness in the Cheadle area, the print, as yet unconfirmed is taken with 2 x 3 inch cartridges for scale. The witness, a vermin controller on land in the Totmonslow area. Also reports the possible sighting of a large cats hind quarters, and the finding of 6 rabbit carcuses, ripped in half.

A visit to this site is planned to learn more of the habitat, and check for supporting eidence.

On 07/03/07 UPIA Co-Ordinator Dave Sadler appeared on the Stewart George show on 94.6fm BBC Radio Stoke, discussing the current sightings in the area. Via the show a furthur 5 sightings have currently been logged.

ARTICLES HAVE APPEARED IN SEVERAL LOCAL NEWSPAPERS CONCERNING THE UPIA'S INVOLVEMENT IN THESE CASES. THE STOKE SENTINEL, THE LEEK, CHEADLE AND UTTOXETER TIMES AND POST, THE EAST CHESHIRE GUARDIAN CIRCULATION AND THE CONGLETON CHRONICLE. ARTICLES CONCERNING OUR INVOLVEMENT AND OTHER READERS TALES OF BIG CAT SIGHTINGS CAN BE FOUND ON INDIVIDUAL WEBSITES. ADD BIG CAT OR UPIA INTO EACH WEBSITES SEARCH ENGINE.

THE UPIA HAVE ALSO BEEN IN LIASONS WITH SEVERAL LOCAL OFFICIALDOMS AND WILDLIFE EXPERTS. THESE INCLUDE STAFFORDSHIRE POLICES WILDLIFE LIASON OFFICER, THE RSPCA, TRENTHAM GARDENS, AND THE BIG CATS IN BRITAIN GROUP. UPIA CO-ORDINATOR DAVE SADLER IS NOW THE STAFFORDSHIRE AND CHESHIRE REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE GROUP.

ADDITIONALLY THE UPIA HAVE DISCUSSED THE SIGHTINGS ON SIGNAL FM AND BBC RADIO STOKE.

AN ARTICLE REGARDING UPIA’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE STAFFORDSHIRE CAT SIGHTINGS IS AVAILABLE TO READ IN THE STOKE EVENING SENTINEL AT

http://www.thesentinel.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=158338&command=displayContent&sourceNode=158321&contentPK=16654291&moduleName=InternalSearch&formname=sidebarsearch

REPORTS VIA EMAIL

Regarding your recent investigations to large black cats in Staffordshire.

My experience was 4 and half years ago, whilst walking my dog (a border collie) on Hanley Forest Park, it was summertime and around 1800hrs. I was on a normal regular run with my dog when I stopped dead in my tracks as I saw about 50metres away in front of me a large black cat like animal which was about 4ft in length and 3ft in height with a large tail. I thought that ain't no normal cat. My dog didn't see it (thank god) and I shouted him to come to me which he did. The cat walked out of the grass at a slow pace, stopped, looked towards me for about 10 - 15 seconds then carried on walking into some longer grass. I made a hasty retreat back to my parked car.

On returning home I didn't report it as my partner took the mick and said I was seeing things.

Hope this has added some information to your enquiries.

A.S

Dave,

I have seen your letter posted in the sentinel and can tell you off two big cat sightings believed to be of a panther.

The first sighting occurred about June 2006 where a colleague whilst on duty as a Police Officer saw what he believed to be a panther or something similar in size run across the main road at Wetley Rocks near Cheddleton.

This happened at about 0430am and he caught the cat in his main beam and it appeared to glide across the road before jumping a wall and going into a field. he is absolutely adamant about what he saw but did not call it in over his radio as he at first couldn't believe what he had seen and thought he would be laughed at.

(Interestingly this is relatively close, as in a few miles, to the Leek cattle market sightings)

The second occurred in 2005 where a Special Constable observed what he thought was a big cat similar to a panther on the edge of the Alton Towers Estate. He was off duty at the time and did not report it as he did not think he would be believed.

I wont disclose their details to you until I have obtained their permission but they are very certain about what they saw and have no doubts at all.

Please let me know if this is of interest to you and how I could help further.

Regards

VIA TELEPHONE CALLS.

11 JANUARY 2006: A54 BUXTON ROAD AT BOSLEY, CHESHIRE. BLACK CAT

MOW COP. 2006. BLACK CAT AND LYNX - MULTIPLE SIGHTINGS

LEEK, STAFFORDSHIRE. DECEMBER 2006. 8AM, 2 0THER ADDITIONAL SIGHTINGS IN AREA - BLACK CAT

CAVERSWALL, STAFFORDSHIRE. - BLACK CAT

FRADSWELL HALL, STAFFORDSHIRE - BLACK CAT

GOYT VALLEY, DERBYSHIRE. SUMMER 2004 - BLACK CAT

KNYPERSLEY POOL. STAFFORDSHIRE. 1990 - LYNX

LLANGOLLEN, AUGUST 2006 1130AM - BLACK CAT

A51 BUNBURY, CHESHIRE 02/03/07 - BLACK CAT

TRENTHAM GARDENS, STAFFORDSHIRE - 3 SIGHTINGS, 1 ALLEGED ANIMAL ATTACK - BLACK CAT

LOWER WITHINGTON, CHESHIRE. 3 OCCASIONS, 3 SEPERATE WITNESSES - BLACK CAT

MARTON, CHESHIRE. 3 WITNESSES, 3 SIGHTINGS - BLACK CAT

NORTH RODE, CHESHIRE. - BLACK CAT

RUSHTON SPENCER, STAFFORDSHIRE - BLACK CAT

WARSLOW, STAFFORDSHIRE - BLACK CAT

SANDBACH, CHESHIRE - MULTIPLE WITNESSES - PHOTOGRAPHIC EVIDENCE - BLACK CAT

CAPESTHORNE ESTATE, CHESHIRE - BLACK CAT

HENBURY, CHESHIRE - ALLEGED ANIMAL ATTACK - BLACK CAT

MIDDLEWICH - CHESHIRE - BLACK CAT