Lion On The Loose

Sightings of big cat with black markings in Cornwall have triggered a police hunt.

13:52 05 August 2016

A lorry driver has spotted a big cat with black markings between Nanpean and Whitemoor in St Austell in Cornwall triggering a new hunt after a missing lynx was finally found just days ago.

 

The driver contacted the police saying he had seen a big cat with black markings on its face, a thorny colour and a dark tail. Police, who have already spent looking for a lynx that escaped the Dartmoor Zoo, found mysterious white paw prints at the scene.

 

Dartmoor Zoo has already confirmed that none of their lions are missing. Operations manager George Hyde said that it is extremely unlikely that a cat of that size could survive on Dartmoor.

 

However, police said that they are treating the sighting seriously and attended in good faith.

 

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: 'It was described as a female lion walking in front of a lorry. Officers went and spoke to the driver who had seen it.

 

'There were marks where the animal crossed. There have been reports of a similar nature over the years. There was no sighting of the animal by officers.

 

'It is not thought to be a danger to members of the public or workers.'