ARE big cats really on the prowl in Dorset’s countryside?

Bournemouth-based wildlife expert Jonathan McGowan is certainly convinced that they are.

He has been studying sightings for most of his life and says he has amassed lots of 'evidence' over the past 30 years including big cat paw prints, faeces, fur samples and territorial tree markings.

"Every week there are several big cat sightings including leopards, pumas and lynx all over the UK but mainly in Dorset, Hampshire and the New Forest.

"There are around 30 leopards in Dorset alone because it has such a high deer population.

"Most of the big cats are very shy and keep out of the way because they want to remain undetected."

The naturalist has uncovered paw-prints the size of a man's hand that he claims are too large to belong to any other creature.

Big cats have roamed Britain for hundreds of years, according to Mr McGowan.

Before the Dangerous Wild Animals Act in 1976, wealthy exotic animal owners could take their lion, or cheetah for a walk around the park without needing a licence.

When the law was changed to protect the public and animals, many owners gave their pets to zoos or had them put down, others are rumoured to have released their animals into the wild where their offspring are believed to roam to this day.

Mr McGowan stressed there was no threat to humans as big cats are very keen to avoid detection.

But he believes authorities try to cover up the presence of big cats in the country because they don't want the public to panic.

"There are no other animals here that could have left these traces - people need to know that big cats are a reality."

Witness Darren Jenner, 47, said he saw a “big cat” walk out in front of him while he was gravelling his front drive in Westbourne in July.

The furniture designer said the black creature was 5ft long, with a long tail and resembled a panther or puma.

The same black creature had been spotted nearly a month earlier in the back garden of a nearby £700,000 property.

On that occasion homeowner Rachael Mould took pictures and video of the creature that was about the size of a large fox.

Tell tale signs:

Unusual fur caught on fences or barbed wire.

Mysterious droppings, known as ‘scats’, containing deer and rabbit fur, feathers and animal bones.

Clean animal kills including cattle and part-eaten deer on the ground or up in trees.

Territorial markings including scratch marks in trees and on the ground.

Mr McGowan who lives in Southbourne, has written a book called The Large Cat Phenomenon: The Dorset Enigma which he hopes to have published early next year.

Anyone wishing to report a big cat sighting can email Mr McGowan at jrmczoonaturalstuff@gmail.com