tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69602969323251223622024-02-21T10:30:55.345-08:00Big Cat Sightings In SussexNeil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-31288839495474998292015-08-22T07:31:00.001-07:002015-08-22T07:31:24.023-07:00April 2015 'big cat' sighting:From the Sussex Express of 7/4/2015:<br />
<br />
'A reader has reported seeing the ‘Fenland Big Cat’ around the Friday Bridge area last week.<br />
John Johnson, of Victoria Road, Wisbech, says he spotted an animal crossing a field while walking his dog on Thursday at 5pm.'<br />
<br />
'Mr Johnson said: “I was walking my dog on the old canal site in Elm when I saw an animal crossing the fields at high speed from Friday Bridge to the A1101.<br />
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“It was about as tall as a Labrador but twice as long and mainly black. <br />
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“It had a brown cat shaped head, so not a muntjac deer or fox. Did anybody else see it?”<br />
There have been several sightings of a big cat creature across Fenland over the years.'Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-43995199520859869982015-08-21T13:51:00.002-07:002015-08-21T13:51:38.817-07:00Two 'big cat' sightings in SussexApologies for lack of updates; some 'big cat' sightings received are now posted on the Facebook page BIG CATS IN KENT. The first report comes from the outskirts of the Ashdown Forest from late July and concerns a motorist who whilst diving braked hard to avoid a large black cat that ran across the road in front of him. He described the animal as slightly smaller than an Alsatian dog and carrying a rabbit in its mouth. In mid August 2015 a large black cat was observed near Battle by a man walking his daughter at 8:00 am. The animal strolled out of the bushes some fifty yards away; causing the dog to turn rigid and stare at the cat which then stopped in its tracks, turned round and vanished into the bushes from whence it came.Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-30957045729255673792015-01-31T08:47:00.003-08:002015-01-31T08:47:52.159-08:00An older report of two 'big black cats' in Sussex."Thanks to Bob Skinner for this: <br />
<br />
"About thirty years ago I decided to go down to a private estate on the Ashdown
Forest that I had permission to fish & shoot. It was deep winter and snow
lay everywhere and the lakes were frozen over completely but I parked at the top
of the drive and made my way down to see if I could bag something for the pot.
It was a really still day and the snow clung to all the twigs and branches
making everything look amazing and the silence was almost stifling, with
everything muffled by the deep snow which continued to fall heavily. Mooching
around on the ice of the bottom lake and just enjoying being able to look at the
forest from a completely different perspective, my ears detected a sound and I
looked up the track to see a small herd of roe deer moving quickly through the
trees heading towards the path which they crossed without pausing. Realising
that something had obviously spooked them, and that no-one else should have been
there I looked back towards where that had come through the trees assuming that
I would be able to spot whoever was around. What I saw next will stay with me
forever as I spotted two large black cats bounding through the snow towards the
route the deer had taken. On reaching the path I had a good view of them as they
paused before loping across the path and back into the woods where the deer had
disappeared. <br /><br />I got off the ice and made my way up the path to where I
had seen them cross and, sure enough, there were large cat spoors amongst the
deer slots in the snow at the edge of the path but as I stood there the falling
snow was rapidly covering all evidence up. The light was fading rapidly as I
made my way back to the car but I vividly remember my laboured breathing
condensing in front of me and thinking that I must be getting unfit. It was only
when I was sitting back in my vehicle I realised that it wasn't the slope that
had made my heart pound but it was what I had just witnessed. Me spooked by
something in the English countryside, I'd never, ever thought that would
happen!<br /><br />As a postscript, I continued to visit this private estate for
several years and spent many happy days and nights out there alone and whilst I
regularly saw loads of deer I never again saw a shred of evidence that big cats
were, or had ever been, at large there."Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-83843207337956461492015-01-20T17:32:00.002-08:002015-01-20T17:35:15.468-08:00Seaford 'panther' sighting...A black leopard sighting has been reported to me this evening (20/1/2015) from near Seaford, in Sussex. A motorist was driving home from Seaford towards Cuckmere River when according to the witness, "a very big black cat casually stepped out of the bushes along the opposing side of the road and walked out right in front of me - it must have been 20ft away I could and still can't quite believe it! As I got to maybe 18-15 ft away it upped its pace and jumped up the bank to left of the road and disappeared across the pathway."<br />
<br />
Over the past five or so years there has been a rise in sightings from the Seaford area; although there have been numerous sightings reported from the area over the last fifty or so years. Statistics based on our files suggest a small population of melanistic leopards which have used the railway lines, rivers and notably Seaford Golf Course for navigation. With Friston Forest close by there is plenty of foliage for a large cat or two to disappear into and with Castle Hill Nature Reserve and the forest flanking the area of sightings; it's no real shock to find such a concentrated area of reports. we'd also be interested to find out whether Drusillas Zoo have ever had anyone report a large cat in the vicinity. <br />
Large cats are often reported around local zoo parks, attracted by smells and possibly cats housed at the parks although as far as we're aware Drusillas only keeps servals. Even so, one huge patch of woodland and forest provides a perfect green belt for an elusive cat if it wanted to makes it way through to Ditchcling, Portslade and Hove golf course where a few years ago now a professional golfer reported to us that he'd seen a large cat one afternoon whilst he was practising. If one follows the greenbelt - taking in Steyning, Patching, Arundel, Midhurst and cat on the hunt could easily end up in Hampshire within a few weeks. The term 'looking for a needle in a haystack' certainly applies here...Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-15792002274031697642014-12-29T13:58:00.001-08:002014-12-29T13:58:45.190-08:00From the archives: The Gardener who was attacked by a lynx!In 2001 a gardener contacted Lewes police in Sussex claiming he'd been attacked by a cat which was "three times bigger than a domestic cat". He had disturbed the animal whilst clearing a thicket when the confrontation occurred; resulting in the man apparently grabbing the cat around the neck before it made off. Whether the incident actually happened we'll never really know, but here's the article in three parts for your perusal: <br />
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Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-37362681623498778972014-09-12T09:41:00.002-07:002014-09-12T09:41:49.059-07:00How did a dead lion end up in a Sussex freezer? Find out more by reading <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/news/reality-check/2014/sep/10/was-a-dead-lion-really-found-in-a-freezer-in-essex">HERE</a>Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-84304636978567283932014-07-17T02:04:00.001-07:002014-07-17T02:04:38.825-07:00'Big cat' sighted by train passenger:From The Argus 8th July 2014:<br />
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'TRAIN passenger saw what he believes was a “puma” type cat. <br />
Kevin Tully was travelling with his wife Amanda Zoe, 49, when he spotted what he believed to be a big cat near Southease railway station, between Newhaven and Lewes. Mr Tully, of Beacon Road, Seaford, said: “There was a big cat quite close to the railway line, nestling in next to a hedge. <br />
“It was circling in the way cats tend to do before they settle down somewhere. <br />
“What was really weird was that it was in a field of sheep. “The hairs on my neck stood up. <br />
I did try to point it out to my wife but we had already gone past where it was.” <br />
Mr Tully, aged 50, who is a technology teacher, told of the sighting after dog walker Dianne Lonnon came across a “spotty brown coloured cat” in nearby Cantercrow Hill in Denton, near Newhaven. Mrs Lonnon, who has been on safari twice, said she thought the cat looked like a leopard but that details were difficult to remember as she was so scared. <br />
Her sighting was noted by a Sussex Police wildlife officer at the time. <br />
Mr Tully believes he did not see a leopard. He said: “It didn’t look like a leopard, it was sleeker and smaller. <br />
“It looked like a dirty puma to me. It was the size of a puma but it had markings on. <br />
“My wife told me it must have been a big dog, but its movements were definitely those of a cat. I saw it for at least five seconds.” <br />
Mr Tully used to live near Paignton Zoo in Devon. <br />
He added: “I used to go and see the pumas there and funnily enough my brother used to look after one in the days that wild animals could be kept as pets. <br />
“I didn’t report it because I thought people would reckon I was mad.” <br />
Dozens of big cat sightings have been made to Sussex Police over the past decade, including a suspected sighting of a lion.'Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-28641320070550979532014-06-30T06:41:00.002-07:002014-06-30T06:41:44.184-07:00Recent sightings from Sussex:Recent Sussex sighting from the Argus 24/6/2014: <br />"A DOG walker dialled 999 to report seeing a leopard at a beauty spot. <br />
Dianne Lonnon was walking her terrier-collie cross called James in Cantercrow Hill, Denton, near Newhaven, when they came across the “spotty brown coloured big cat” just in front of her. <br />
Mrs Lonnon, 66, said: “I was just yards away. <br />
“It was in front of us and looking away so I don’t think it saw us and I was just praying it didn’t turn round. I was just hoping the dog didn’t bark. “It was walking in front of us and just walked away. We were heading towards it so I turned around and hoped it didn’t smell my fear. “I didn’t even look behind me I was so scared. <br />
“Then I ran home with the dog and phoned 999. They told me I had to call the non-emergency number and were asking me lots of questions like what shape its ears were and whether it was bigger than a Labrador. <br />
“Its tail was right up and I can’t remember what its ears looked like because I was so scared and keen to get out of there. <br />
“I’ve been on safari twice and it looked just like a leopard. <br />
“I saw it long enough to know it was definitely a cat. <br />
“It was right in Denton village. I have seen lots of people riding bikes and up there with kids and I’m terrified. I just wanted to tell everyone it could be out there.” <br />
A spokeswoman for Sussex Police: “A sighting of a large brown wild cat with lines on its tail was reported to police on Sunday at 9.44am by a dog walker who had spotted it in a field north of St Leonards Road, Newhaven. <br />
“The sighting has been noted by the wildlife officer for the area.” <br />
She added that if anyone spots a suspected leopard or other big cat they should call the 101 police non-emergency number. But if you are being attacked or in fear of attack call 999." <br />
Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-63688546324343774512014-01-10T08:52:00.003-08:002014-01-10T08:52:32.145-08:00Lack of updates...The lack of updates on this blog have come about due to other commitments but sightings do still persist of so-called Sussex related 'big cats' with two more being reported this year, one in the region of Devil's Dyke and another in East Sussex at Hastings, both black leopards. In December 2013 there were eleven sightings reported to <a href="http://www.kentbigcats.blogspot.com/">KENT BIG CAT RESEARCH</a> with most of these being leopard and lynx, and only one report of a puma. Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-46699095778272173442013-06-11T05:29:00.000-07:002013-06-11T05:29:01.783-07:00'Big cat' seen at UckfieldRead more <a href="http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/local/big-cat-sighted-at-uckfield-1-5146325">HERE</a>Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-60664122361008722332012-09-24T15:42:00.002-07:002012-09-24T15:42:39.671-07:00Haywards Heath and other sightingsThere have been a handful of Sussex-related sightings received in the last couple of days, the most recent involving a motorist travelling to work at 5am on 24th September in the Haywards Heath area. A large black cat, the size of a labrador (as often stated) with a long tail bounded across the road. The witness had previously been sceptical to such sightings and told his wife who reported it. The wife of the witness reported also that three years previous she'd seen a puma at Ditchling Beacon. There have also been sightings reported from Hastings and near Brighton - both involving black leopard.Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-34577461254581923462012-09-19T10:29:00.000-07:002012-09-19T10:29:49.154-07:00Slightly odd 'big cat' article from This Is SussexTo read more of the June 2012 article (with a few strange comments thrown in)click <a href="http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/Big-cats-reported-Ashdown-Forest/story-16596769-detail/story.html">HERE</a>Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-14749490939869083302012-09-19T10:21:00.001-07:002012-09-19T10:22:28.709-07:00The Sussex/Hampshire 'lion' hunt hoaxNot many people would have heard about the Sussex and Hampshire 'lion' hoax from 1905 and so have reproduced a cutting from the Wanganui Chronicle from 9th May 1905 which speaks of a ferocious beast on the loose that turned out to be nothing of a the sort - as in the case of so many other 'lion' reports. Other Sussex lion hoaxes will be mentioned in the book MYSTERY ANIMALS OF THE BRITISH ISLES: SUSSEX which is currently being written. Click on the image for a better view.
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Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-65932815786289114742012-07-20T03:57:00.002-07:002012-07-20T03:57:40.642-07:00The 'beast' of BattleThere has been a sighting in Battle of a black leopard. The animal was observed by several witnesses for more than ten minutes as it sauntered through an overgrown field, disturbing buzzards on its way. The animal kept a distance of around 200 yards before moving out of sight. During the 1990s there were several sightings of a puma around Battle - Battle Abbey custodian Daryl Burchmore reported to Meridian News that a tourist to the site had come into the office to say he'd seen a large puma roaming the grounds. <br />
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There has also been a lot of activity - animal deaths, scat - in a remote area of Lewes. This is under investigation.Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-55610819759962808552012-06-25T05:28:00.001-07:002012-06-25T05:28:06.413-07:00Undisclosed location investigationThere have been several sightings recently at an undisclosed location Sussex resulting in several animal deaths. A calf, fox cubs, birds and other animals have been found completely stripped clean and in larger prey showing puncture marks. This incident is under investigation as it seems clear that at least one large cat (a black leopard judging by recent reports) is inhabiting a stretch of woodland. More of this will be highlighted in the upcoming book MYSTERY ANIMALS OF THE BRITISH ISLES: SUSSEX which is currently being written.Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-87876840423746678362012-04-10T02:52:00.000-07:002012-04-10T02:52:40.017-07:00Sussex Easter sightingsOver the Easter period, from the Good Friday to the Monday we received 4 Sussex-related sightings, the most recent, from Monday 9th April as follows:<br />
'Monday 9 April,<br />
<br />
<br />
'Your account of seeing a 'black leopard' is almost an exact description of what my girlfreind and i saw yesterday. We were on the outskirts of Cowden on Smithers Lane (turns into Furnace Lane Cowden end). Clear day, late afternoon and we saw what we could only describe as a big black cat. It was skirting the field along the hedgerow before crossing the field at a distance of roughly 500m all done at walking pace. Too far away to say 100% that it was a 'big cat' but we live just a few fields away and neither of us could put the sighting down to any other livestock/wild animal/cat or dog..(it moved just as you described..cat like).'<br />
<br />
On Easter Sunday there was a sighting of a puma-like cat at Battle, where in the past there have been numerous reports. In the past there have bene several sightings around the grounds of Battle Abbey. A report of a black leopard was received from Ditchling, and there was also a report of a lynx at Uckfield on Good Friday. A landcspae gardener, who'd just finished a small job, was on his way home at 12:30 pm when the lynx sped across the road around 40 yards away.Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-39541039799940712192012-02-08T15:54:00.001-08:002012-02-08T15:54:53.680-08:00Seaford 'big cat' updateSomeone emailed with an update on the Seaford 'big cat':<br />
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<a href="http://kentbigcats.blogspot.com/2012/02/seaford-big-cat-update.html">http://kentbigcats.blogspot.com/2012/02/seaford-big-cat-update.html</a>Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-74086450956149590862012-02-07T08:17:00.000-08:002012-02-07T08:17:06.003-08:00Lynx seen at BrightonA Mr Austin reported that whilst driving up Ditchling Road and the vicinity of Friar Road/Surrenden Rd, at 10:00 am, with his wife, a large "rabbit-coloured" cat sped across the road at tremendous speed and disappeared into a garden. The animal, which was only ten-feet away, headed north. The witness did not see a long tail one would associate with a puma and believed he'd seen a lynx.Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-17322081615676985702012-02-07T03:53:00.000-08:002012-02-07T03:53:33.105-08:00"Big cat walked into our front room"!The above statement was made by a Gemma Sherlow-Gray on Monday, 6th Feb's Meridian Tonight, after she claimed that a big black cat, the size of a labrador, and with green eyes, had strolled into her front room. The alleged incident took place at Seaford. and if true, could involve the same animal which was observed recently at Ovingdean, and other parts of Brighton and back towards Alfriston. A neighbour of the witness, named Alan Chandler, reported that large paw prints had been found in the snow near the houses, and may well have belonged to an animal that had come from the Seaford Head area. This report echoes a recent encounter at Ovingdean where a male witness claimed his small dog was being eyed up by a black leopard as it stared through his patio doors. A few years ago a man in London claimed that one night whilst feeling unwell, he opened his door in his Nunhead property, and was shocked when a big black cat strolled in. Such encounters seem highly unlikely, but the witnesses seem adamant that the animals they are encountering are 'big cats'.Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-46393660145627563842012-01-27T10:44:00.000-08:002012-01-27T10:44:13.651-08:00South Chailey black leopardA female dog trainer has reported a sighting of a black leopard on a rural pathway at South Chailey. The woman saw the cat on Friday 27th January 2012 at 2:30 pm and stated that although it was some distance away it was clearly not a domestic cat or dog. The animal casually strolled along a track, stopped to stretch then sauntered off. When the woman had finished her lesson she went to the spot and found large paw prints.<br />
Over the last decade there have been numerous reports of a melanistic leopard in the area, the same cat is possibly the animal seen at Polegate, Brighton, Uckfield etc.<br />
Many reports from the county of Sussex are currently being collated for a new book, MYSTERY ANIMALS OF THE BRITISH ISLES: SUSSEX. Watch this space.Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-26676169776611816962011-08-31T12:30:00.001-07:002011-08-31T12:30:59.739-07:00The 'beast' of Essex ? It's almost as laughable as the 'beast' of Sussex!<span style="font-size: x-small;">Visit <a href="http://kentbigcats.blogspot.com/2011/08/is-this-beast-of-essex-of-course-not.html">KENT BIG CAT RESEARCH</a> for more info.</span>Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-24684951198529511732011-06-09T08:49:00.000-07:002011-06-09T08:49:50.398-07:00Lynx sighting in West Sussex<span style="font-size: x-small;">For many decades, the lynx, which was once native to Britain, has still been sighted across the south-east. This elusive cat, known for its tufted ears, and short tail, was believed to have died out a few thousand years ago, although some researchers believe it may well have existed in the UK until more recent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">At the beginning of June a sighting took place in Chichester of an animal larger than a fox and covered in black spots. The witness observed the cat in a back garden and stated it was a lynx. This sighting is currently being investigated.</span>Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-12732724842103735162011-05-29T10:07:00.001-07:002011-05-29T10:07:57.300-07:00"We live on the banks of the Cuckmere river just next to Alfriston, a few miles from Polegate, and as I drove across a bridge over the Cuckmere just near our house earlier this year, coming towards me on the road and caught in the headlights was what looked like a very large black cat – to me it looked elegant, sleek and somewhat puma like. I slowed down as I neared it, and it snuck under a railing and went into the undergrowth by the river. Of course I guess it could have been a black dog, such as a black Labrador, as it was about the same size as a lab, but it certainly looked much more cat like than that. I remember its eyes in the headlights being very reflective, and I think they reflected green, though its a while ago now and I cant be sure that I've remembered that correctly – but we have two dogs, and I remember thinking that the eyes didn’t look anything like our dogs eyes when reflected in lights. <br />
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We have about twelve acres of fields or thereabouts, with some six hundred years of river frontage, the frontage being all very overgrown as it is not grazed or cut at all and therefore providing good undisturbed cover for animals... hence the probable mink and stoats that I’ve seen, and the otter that someone fishing on our river bank early one morning believes that they saw. Whether a big cat passes by from time to time, who knows, but it could be possible, and there are some signs of a large predator of some sort having been here on more than one occasion. The nearest sheep to us are probably a mile or so away – but on a couple of occasions we have had what I think were large chunks of sheep vertebra (18in to two feet sections) and a sheep’s pelvis left in the field, so whatever brought them there must have carried them quite some distance. No doubt it could have been a fox, as there are vast numbers of fox and rabbits in the area, but whatever it was would have to have been quite sizeable to have carried such a large chunk of sheep, and somehow to me it just didn’t feel like the sort of thing a fox would have done, especially with so many rabbits in the area!"Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-27313986700790173022011-03-31T04:56:00.001-07:002011-03-31T04:56:49.942-07:002010 Brighton sighting...'My sister saw a puma – brown tan flavoured one – walk across a path she was walking along with her partner near Waterhall in Brighton on the South Downs in October in 2010 (in the middle of the day I think). I’ve just found out about you and what you do so thought you should know for your records.'Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6960296932325122362.post-73521585845772074582011-03-12T12:46:00.000-08:002011-03-12T12:46:37.413-08:00Leopard seen at Portslade again<span style="font-size: x-small;">On Saturday March 5th at 11:00 am a woman named Sally observed a large, black cat stalking sheep as she was in the vicinity of the A27, Portslade, Brighton. Over the last couple of years there have been several sightings around the Brighton area. These can be read about in Neil Arnold's book, MYSTERY ANIMALS OF THE BRITISH ISLES: KENT</span>Neil Ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18241593955210773189noreply@blogger.com0