News Archive

The Beast of Burford

A shy black panther-like big cat has been seen by several people around Burford, Oxfordshire, and is thought to have killed a number of sheep at night.

Keepers at Cotswold Wildlife Park , near Burford, are convinced that the big cat, dubbed the "Beast of Burford", is also responsible for the death of one of the Park's Indian Blackbuck.

The 8 month old Blackbuck was killed by a night predator. The Blackbuck would have been too big and strong for a fox and the nature of the mauling it received, including severe throat lacerations, is typical of a big cat.

Crucially, paw prints found at the scene are much bigger than those of a domestic cat and have no claw marks. All the big cats (except cheetahs) have retractable claws, unlike dogs or foxes, whose claws would always show up in a good paw-print.

However, this big cat is very elusive and mostly nocturnal. " It could easily live undetected in the hundreds of acres of woodland around Burford," says Cotswold Wildlife Park's Reggie Heyworth. "It could survive well off rabbits, foxes and ground-nesting birds and I suppose the occasional sheep must be tempting too. But I am sure it would avoid humans and shy away from any disturbance. "

The Police have advised anyone who sees the "Beast of Burford" not to approach it, and to contact them.

Want to Help?

A visit to the Cotswold Wildlife Park can now be even more worthwhile. By adopting an animal, you can provide a helpful contribution towards the costs of keeping and feeding the animals and supporting our conservation breeding programmes... click here for more information