Is there a wild black leopard on the loose in the Sandwich area?

Big cat researcher Neil Arnold has had a report of one from a friend as she was driving between Ramsgate and Sandwich at the end of June.

She described a yellow or green-eyed big black cat crossing the main road and disappearing into the undergrowth.

Since then there have been reported sightings of two similar animals in Thanet.

“This sighting seems to have been the trigger for the others,” said Mr Arnold, of Kent Big Cat Research.

“They are probably staying close to the coast and often end up around Canterbury or the Sandwich and Deal areas.

"The climate here is perfect for them.

“They shouldn’t be mistaken for pumas, which are tan or fawn coloured. The black leopards have large territories and at the moment there is plenty of prey for them.

"Deer, foxes, pigeons, squirrels and domestic cats are all on their menu.

“There is no evidence to suggest they will go for people unless you hurt them, but they shouldn’t be approached.”

The presence of black leopards in this country can be traced back to Roman times when they appeared in amphitheatres and circuses.

During the 1950s and 1960s they could easily be ordered through pet shops, said Mr Arnold, but licensing laws introduced in the 1970s saw many owners turn them loose rather than pay fees or have them put down.

~Have you seen a big cat in Deal or Sandwich? Phone our newsdesk on 01304 365526 or email mercurynews@theknmgroup.co.uk

Mr Arnold's website is www.kentbigcats.blogspot.com