Beast of Bodmin Moor
A large black cat has stalked Cornwall's Bodmin Moor since the 1970s. Livestock kills, paw prints, and hundreds of sightings prompted a government investigation—which found 'no verifiable evidence' but couldn't explain the attacks.
Cornwall’s Phantom Cat
The Beast of Bodmin Moor is a large black cat reported across Cornwall since the 1970s. With hundreds of sightings, livestock attacks, and even a government investigation, the Beast represents Britain’s most persistent big cat mystery.
The Location
Bodmin Moor:
- Cornwall, England
- Granite moorland
- Remote terrain
- Agricultural area
- Perfect hiding
Physical Description
Witnesses report:
- Large black cat
- Panther-like
- 3-5 feet long
- Yellow eyes
- Muscular build
Livestock Attacks
The evidence:
- Sheep killed
- Distinctive wounds
- Large bite marks
- Professional kills
- Ongoing problem
Government Investigation
1995 inquiry:
- MAFF investigation
- Official study
- “No verifiable evidence”
- But couldn’t explain attacks
- Inconclusive
The Skull
1995 discovery:
- Large cat skull found
- On Bodmin Moor
- Leopard identified
- Imported rug?
- Or proof?
Possible Explanations
Theories include:
- Escaped exotic pets
- Released after 1976 Act
- Breeding population
- Multiple animals
- Still unknown
The 1976 Connection
Dangerous Wild Animals Act:
- Made exotic pets expensive
- Owners may have released
- Timing matches sightings
- Possible origin
- Still speculation
Video Evidence
Footage captured:
- Multiple videos
- Something large
- Black and cat-like
- Debated identity
- Inconclusive
Sighting Patterns
Reports cluster:
- Moorland areas
- Near farms
- Dawn/dusk
- Consistent behavior
- Ongoing phenomenon
Other British Cats
Related sightings:
- Beast of Exmoor
- Surrey Puma
- Fen Tiger
- Nationwide pattern
- Not just Bodmin
Local Impact
On Cornwall:
- Tourism angle
- Local legend
- Media interest
- Farm concerns
- Mixed feelings
Modern Status
Continuing today:
- Regular sightings
- Livestock attacks
- No capture
- Mystery endures
- Active case
Scientific View
Experts say:
- Possible escapees
- Unlikely breeding
- Individual animals
- Not population
- But sightings continue
Significance
Decades of sightings, livestock kills, and government investigation of large cat in British countryside.
Legacy
The Beast of Bodmin proves that even densely populated Britain may harbor big cats—creatures glimpsed by hundreds but never caught.