Walkers spot ‘three foot high’ big cat ‘the size of a mountain lion’ during woodland hike 

Two friends out walking in the Cotswolds over Christmas claim that they saw a cougar padding through the Cotswold fields.

Anne Terranova, 57, from Nailsworth and her companion were on footpath through woodland between Watledge and Amberley, near Nailsworth, Gloucestershire when they spotted the beast.  

It was a distance away but they could just make out it was a big cat 2-3 feet high, she said.

Two friends out walking in Nailsworth, nr Stroud, Glos, over Christmas are convinced they saw a cougar padding through the Cotswold fields. Stock picture of a cougar

‘It was about waist height and was certainly feline – the size and shape of a mountain lion,’ she said.

The keen David Attenborough fan, a regular viewer of wildife programmes, said it was a dark chestnut brown colour and at least 20 times the size of a rabbit which they saw near it in the field.

‘I posted about the sighting on the Nailsworth Chat and Information on Facebook and there was also another post from another lady saying that she had seen the same as I had,’ she added. 

Frank Tunbridge, who has investigated big cat sightings in the area for the past 25 years, said that he regularly receives sightings of big cats near Nailsworth.

He said he believed mountain lions lived in the area, adding: ‘I think this type of big cat has now established itself in the area.

‘I have about two or three sightings a month across all the country and about 30 per cent of them are from Nailsworth.’

Frank Tunbridge, who has investigated big cat sightings in the area for the past 25 years, said that he regularly receives sightings of big cats near Nailsworth

Mr Tunbridge said years ago people used to keep big cats as pets until a change of law meant they were abandoned. 

 He said when the Dangerous Wild Animals Act came in during 1976, it meant that the big cats were let out into the countryside as they were not allowed to keep them outdoors. 

‘Years ago people used to keep them as pets.

‘When there is not as much foliage around in the winter months they are more often seen.

‘These animals are not threatening human beings. They are now a part of our countryside and they should be respected as such.

‘They are keeping down an invading deer population.’