Prowling big cat blamed for sheep killings

20 February 1998

Prowling "big cat" blamed for sheep killings

A “BIG CAT” is thought to be to blame for a spate of unusual sheep killings
in the north of Scotland, according to veterinary pathologist Alan Syme, of the
Scottish Agricultural Colleges veterinary laboratories.

All that were left of two of the carcasses were the skull and fleece. Another
carcass only had the fleece and part of the backbone, while a fourth was mostly
intact, but its head, neck and most of its right front leg were missing.

One worried farmer, from the Kiltarlity area, just outside Inverness, called
in the experts to find out what was killing them. He has undertaken night vigils.

• The Scotsman 20/02/98 page 10