Police Say the "Beast of Balbirnie" Could be a Black Leopard
Brian Donnelly
The Herald
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Markinch, Scotland (UK):
Police last night said evidence suggested that a black leopard is roaming around near a Scots town.
A plaster cast of a paw print made following a sighting of the so-called "Beast of Balbirnie" in October has been studied by zoologists.The large, dark-coloured animal has been spotted several times in recent months near Markinch, Fife.
Constable Mark Maylin, wildlife officer with Fife Constabulary, said experts had now dismissed claims that the animal might be a St Bernard.He said: "We've had a plaster cast of the animal's footprint examined and the conclusion was it was certainly not a dog."
Experts were as certain as they could be that it was an exotic cat."They couldn't specify the species but due to reports of sightings we've had about a large black cat, it's almost certain to be a black leopard."Mr Maylin said he hoped the animal would be captured.
The "Beast of Balbirnie" has been repeatedly spotted near rubbish bins at homes on the outskirts of Glenrothes, Fife, in recent months.Experts believe the animal could be the offspring of a leopard which was released or escaped from private captivity in the 1990s. It has been described as the size of a large collie dog.
The cast of the 9cm by 10cm print taken by police is almost three times as big as a domestic cat print, normally 3cm to 4cm. Based on the number of reports over recent years, police believe there could be as many as half a dozen big cats in Fife alone.
Feb 02, 2006
Brian Donnelly
The Herald
________
Markinch, Scotland (UK):
Police last night said evidence suggested that a black leopard is roaming around near a Scots town.
A plaster cast of a paw print made following a sighting of the so-called "Beast of Balbirnie" in October has been studied by zoologists.The large, dark-coloured animal has been spotted several times in recent months near Markinch, Fife.
Constable Mark Maylin, wildlife officer with Fife Constabulary, said experts had now dismissed claims that the animal might be a St Bernard.He said: "We've had a plaster cast of the animal's footprint examined and the conclusion was it was certainly not a dog."
Experts were as certain as they could be that it was an exotic cat."They couldn't specify the species but due to reports of sightings we've had about a large black cat, it's almost certain to be a black leopard."Mr Maylin said he hoped the animal would be captured.
The "Beast of Balbirnie" has been repeatedly spotted near rubbish bins at homes on the outskirts of Glenrothes, Fife, in recent months.Experts believe the animal could be the offspring of a leopard which was released or escaped from private captivity in the 1990s. It has been described as the size of a large collie dog.
The cast of the 9cm by 10cm print taken by police is almost three times as big as a domestic cat print, normally 3cm to 4cm. Based on the number of reports over recent years, police believe there could be as many as half a dozen big cats in Fife alone.
Feb 02, 2006
