Big cat blamed for sheep slaughter (From Free Press Series)

Big cat blamed for sheep slaughter

POLICE say a big cat was responsible for the slaughter of five sheep at a Monmouthshire farm on Saturday.

Nine sheep were attacked at Ton Uchaf Farm, Llanfapley on Saturday evening, and the carnage was discovered by off-duty policeman Tom Andrews and his wife at 8pm.

Farmer Colin Thompsett said on Monday: "It was bloody mayhem in the field, with one sheep dead in the brook with its leg torn off and flesh missing, three which had to be shot immediately and five more severely injured, one of which has since died.

"Another two of the flock of 37 ewe lambs have been carried off completely which is an indication of an attack by wild cats. There is an electric fence around the field so they could not have escaped.

"Tom Andrews told me he saw something grey and streaky going across the field. They are so fast they can cover up to 100 miles a night when looking for food."

He said he was contacting Monmouth AM David Davies to ask if Defra could hold organised shoots before the big cats started attacking people.

PC Steve Hill, the policeman investigating the incident said: "No-one has seen a big cat but from the injuries that were caused it seems likely to have been one that attacked these sheep.

" I was briefed by a Defra vet when I investigated a big cat attack in the Usk area eight months ago and he said clean cut injuries were more likely to be from a big cat than a dog."

He said the police were making more inquiries in the area about the incident.

Mr Thompsett said he had contacted other farmers in the area and had spoken to two who had both sighted big cats roaming the area.

He added: "The huntsman at Monmouthshire Hunt Kennels said it was definitely a big cat that caused the injuries because one back leg was snapped off and the flesh stripped off the bone."