Sussex Easter sightings

Over 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:
'Monday 9 April,


'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).'

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.

Seaford 'big cat' update

Someone emailed with an update on the Seaford 'big cat':

http://kentbigcats.blogspot.com/2012/02/seaford-big-cat-update.html

Lynx seen at Brighton

A 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.

"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'.

South Chailey black leopard

A 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.
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.
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.

The 'beast' of Essex ? It's almost as laughable as the 'beast' of Sussex!

Visit KENT BIG CAT RESEARCH for more info.

Lynx sighting in West Sussex

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.

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.