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Big cats are out there, says Fife expert

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Regular sightings of big cats continue in north-east Fife, a local expert has told The Courier.

Retired police officer George Redpath (65), of Balmullo, is an expert on the unexplained creatures which many people say prowl the rural landscape.

With the UK emerging from its worst recorded winter in 30 years, questions have been raised over whether an animal such as a puma or lynx — which have been linked to the sightings — could survive the low temperatures.

Mr Redpath is confident the animals are out there.

“The last sighting I had reported to me was in December from someone who saw a big cat on the Kilmany to Rathillet road.

“They are still being seen regularly but a lot people now don’t bother reporting it,” he said.

Big cat sightings across north-east Fife have been well publicised over the years and Mr Redpath has been compiling evidence on the subject since his time as a uniformed CID officer.

He has seen a big cat three times in 20 years, and said there is “definitely a lynx” living in the area.

“To have three sightings in 20 years doesn’t sound like a lot but there are people in America who have never seen a puma before.

“The largest cat I saw was as large as an alsatian but not as tall. The smallest one was about the size of a cocker spaniel.”

Mr Redpath said frozen ground would not be a problem for the animals, which eat rabbit and deer.

“There have been regular reports of dead deer,” he added. “But it would be no problem whatsoever for an animal such as lynx to live in this weather — they are designed to walk on snow.”