Alicia White finds mutilated sheep and lamb near her home, raising concerns of a large feline predator on the loose.
In an unsettling incident near Carmarthen, Wales, a 21-year-old farm worker named Alicia White stumbled upon the remains of two sheep and a lamb, leading to fears of a large feline predator potentially being on the loose. The harrowing discovery, made in a field behind her home, involved the sheep carcasses being stripped of flesh while the lamb was found beheaded.
Alicia White described the scene to NeedToKnow, stating, “I found them up behind our house. The lamb’s head was completely gone and the other two sheep had their skulls eaten in half. I’ve never seen anything like it before. It does make me think it is possible it was done by a big cat.” She mentioned that there have been previous sightings of such big cats in the region, which fuels her belief that they could pose a genuine threat.
Acknowledging her background from Devon, where she frequently camped on Dartmoor, she remarked, “with the amount of space up there, big cats could definitely be hiding.” This context underscores her expectation that encounters with large, non-native predators might not be as rare as one might think.
Concerns regarding big cats in the UK are not entirely unfounded. In a separate incident last month, a large cat-like figure was captured on a doorbell camera in a village near High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. The creature, described by homeowner David Lawrence, appeared significantly larger than a domestic cat and was seen balancing on a six-foot-wide skip. Lawrence observed, “It looked bigger than a normal cat. It was climbing into my skip. It has larger paws and a long thick tail and slightly smaller ears than a domestic cat. There’s something about it that shouts to me it’s not normal.”
The prevalence of these sightings gains additional credence from an academic perspective. Professor Robin Allaby, a specialist in Life Sciences at Warwick University, suggested that as many as 100 big cats could inhabit the British countryside. His research indicated the presence of ‘Panthera genus’ DNA detected on a sheep carcass in the Lake District, which raises possibilities of the existence of wild species such as lions, leopards, tigers, jaguars, or even snow leopards roaming within the UK.
The unsettling event in Carmarthen and the recent sightings of large felines serve as a focal point for discussions surrounding wildlife in Britain, illustrating the complex relationship between domesticated farming practices and the influence of potential wild predators in the region.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-64574240 – This link would generally support discussions on wildlife and potential threats, although it is not specifically about big cats in Wales.
- https://www.zsl.org/zsl-london-zoo/conservation/uk-conservation – This link discusses conservation efforts in the UK, which can provide context for discussions about wild predators in Britain.
- https://www.warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/lifesci/staff/robin_allaby/ – This URL could provide information about Professor Robin Allaby and his work, although specific research on ‘Panthera genus’ DNA in the UK is not directly linked.
- https://www.nationalgeographic.org/animals/mammals/facts/panthera-species – This link provides general information on the Panthera genus, which includes lions, leopards, tigers, jaguars, and snow leopards.
- https://www.devon.gov.uk/wildlife – This link discusses wildlife in Devon, a region mentioned in the article for its spacious areas where big cats might hide.
- https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/wildlife-and-conservation/ – This URL provides information on wildlife and conservation in Buckinghamshire, which is relevant to the context of big cat sightings in the UK.
- https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/big-cat-fears-after-two-31374363 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative mentions recent incidents and does not reference outdated information. However, it does not provide a specific date for the original event.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The quotes seem original and directly attributed to individuals involved, but they do not appear in earlier online sources, which could indicate they are first-hand or recent.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
WalesOnline is a reputable local news outlet. However, some claims, such as the DNA findings, might require further verification from academic sources.
Plausability check
Score:
6
Notes:
While there have been reported big cat sightings, the claims of such a large population in the UK might be exaggerated and lack concrete evidence.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears to be recent and sourced from a reputable outlet. However, some claims about big cat populations in the UK require further academic verification.
