A Gloucestershire couple had a captivating encounter with a mysterious big cat wandering near the M5 and A417 junction in the village of Shurdington. On the evening of June 10, the woman and her partner spotted the sleek animal moving along a brook, unaware of their cautious presence behind a hedge.
Initially mistaking the creature for a sheepdog due to the absence of sheep nearby, the eyewitness described the animal as large, slender, and black with a notably long tail curled at the end. It was bigger than a fox—about the size of a lurcher—but much leaner.
The couple first glimpsed the cat from a stile on Dark Lane before it crossed into another field. They then tracked it from a distance as it wandered towards Crickley Hill, roughly 200 meters away along a public footpath.
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“We walk here most evenings, and this sighting has made us more alert,” said the witness. “There are many deer about now, and this encounter reminded me of a previous walk where we found a deer leg hanging in a tree nearby.”
Though mesmerized, the witness regretted not capturing a photo or video, explaining they did not want to disturb the cat, which remained completely unaware of their presence.
The sighting was reported to big cat enthusiast and wildlife expert Frank Tunbridge, who believes there are approximately 400 big cats living wild across the UK. He noted previous sightings near Cheltenham and said such encounters, though rare, continue to intrigue locals and experts alike.
Frank explained, “These animals are secretive and elusive. People often don’t think to use their cameras because they’re so captivated by the sight. Reports come in weekly from rural and some urban fringes where these big cats hunt smaller wildlife, especially abundant deer.”
He added, “You have to be in the right place at the right time to catch a glimpse of one of Britain’s elusive big cats.”