Big cat alert after sheep die (From Western Telegraph)

Big cat alert after sheep die

IDWAL MILES had the shock of his life when he got up close to what he thought was a black sheep and its lamb in the field near his Mathry home. The lamb hissed at him. And as the mother sat up, he realised it was a large black cat - as big as an alsatian, but with a longer body and tail.

The sighting - a week ago on Saturday - has confirmed other reports that there is a large cat on the loose in the area. But the fact that it was accompanied by a cub has come as a huge surprise.

Mr Miles, of Penygroes Villas, said: "It was a lovely sunny morning and these two figures were lying in the field. I thought at first it was a black sheep and lamb. But as I got closer I realised it wasn't. I went back to fetch my wife Rita and we both walked over slowly.

"We got within five yards of the little one. It was about the size of a really big black tom cat.

"When we got near it began hissing and I saw its teeth, which were like a pack of needles. The bigger one, which was about 15 yards away, then sat up and turned. That's when we took steps backwards!

"There is a wild derelict field not far from here and I wonder if the mother is nesting there. She could have more cubs but, if she has, then I wonder why only one was with her? In my opinion it looked as if they had good food somewhere the night before. They both looked tired and were stretched out in the sun."

Mr Miles said his grandson didn't believe him, but the next morning they both saw them again

"They ran off, the little one could move quickly too," he said. "I was a track chargehand for British Rail for 35 years and have walked in some wild places between Clarbeston Road, Letterston and Goodwick Moors, and seen plenty of wild things. But I have never seen anything like this."

Mr Miles confirmed that there had been reports of sheep and chickens being killed at nearby farms.

At the Sloop Inn, Porthgain, licensee Morgan Miles, said: "There is definitely something prowling about out there. Some of the boys who come in here are not tale tellers. If two people go out shooting together they don't usually make up a story. There have been sightings by farmers and a fisherman.

"Barry Island Farm lost a sheep. The remains were found and the bones had been picked clean. Everything was eaten. A fox would normally eat the meat and leave the stomach. A badger might eat the remains, but not clean the bones like that. Another farmer also lost a sheep. People driving along the road at night have seen a big cat jumping up on the hedge, which a normal cat wouldn't be able to do."

Alan Jones, of the Exotic Cats Group, the geography department, Swansea University, told the Western Telegraph: "We are doing quite a large scale research project and the information given by Mr Miles, who came quite close to the cat and had a very good sighting, is very useful. Whether it is the size of an alsatian is difficult to say as it has not been measured up against something, such as a tractor wheel.

"We have had several reported sightings and there is certainly something out there. It is a larger non-domestic cat, but there is a range of species and we do not know which one it is. We will be going out in the field at some time, although we won't necessarily be using standard tracking techniques."

q Another wild animal spotted in the north of the county is a monkey, the size of a small dog. It has been seen near Brawdy and humane traps to capture it alive have been set. But Pembrokeshire County Council says there has been no success so far.