In a compelling account that adds to the long-standing mystery of big cats roaming the British countryside, a biologist has come forward with a detailed recollection of a 1982 sighting on Exmoor. Steve Jones, responding to a recent Guardian letter about a similar experience on Dartmoor, shared his own encounter, which he believes involved a puma or mountain lion.
A Clear Sighting in Broad Daylight
Jones explained that he was walking across Exmoor as part of a teacher training outdoor education module, accompanied by a college friend. Both trained biologists, they were in an area of rough grassland with shallow ditches, featuring overgrown heather and gorse. The visibility was excellent, with the pair positioned about 70 to 100 yards away from a specific ditch around mid-morning.
Suddenly, they observed a large, tan-colored animal with a low-slung body running away from them down the ditch. Jones described the creature as having a blunt face and a long tail with a bushy end, which curved upwards. As it ran, it arched its back, allowing its front legs to project further forward—a characteristic movement often associated with big cats.
Shared Conviction of a Big Cat
The sighting lasted approximately six to eight seconds before the animal disappeared from view. Immediately after, Jones and his friend turned to each other and simultaneously exclaimed, "That's a very large cat!" Their biological training led them to conclude without doubt that it was either a puma or a mountain lion.
This encounter, Jones emphasized, provides credible evidence that at least one big cat was present in the UK during the 1980s. The detailed description, coupled with the witnesses' scientific background, lends weight to ongoing reports of such animals in rural areas like Exmoor and Dartmoor.
Jones's account supports Max Lury's earlier report of a childhood big cat sighting on Dartmoor, which was met with skepticism. By sharing his story, Jones aims to validate similar experiences and contribute to the broader discussion about wildlife mysteries in Britain. The persistence of these sightings over decades continues to intrigue both the public and experts, fueling debates about escaped or released exotic animals in the wild.
