Surrey Puma
Encyclopedia
The Surrey Puma was one or more phantom cat
s, supposedly black pumas, seen around south western Surrey
from the 1960s onwards.
The first possible sightings were recorded in 1959, when police received a number of reports of big cats in the Farnham
area, near the Surrey/Hampshire
border. Two further sightings were recorded in 1962 by water board
personnel in Hampshire, while in the winter of 1962-3, a "cat-like beast" was seen at Bushylease Farm, near Crondall
in Hampshire. When a police officer sighted the supposed Shooters Hill Cheetah in 1963, media interest turned to other big cat sightings.
In August 1964, a bullock at Bushylease was found, severely lacerated. Following press coverage, numerous other reports of contact with the animal, dubbed the "Surrey Puma", came in, ranging from the fanciful to some taken seriously by the police. At Godalming
Police Station alone, 362 reports were received in a two year period. The station also kept a cast of a massive paw print on display, identified as that of a puma by London Zoo
, although several reports noted that its size implied an extremely large specimen and that there were distinct differences between it and the prints of other pumas. The investigation was not closed until the summer of 1967.
In August 1966, a former police photographer took a grainy shot which he claimed showed the Surrey Puma in Worplesdon
. In 1968, a farmer claimed to have shot a puma, but could not provide any evidence. Sightings gradually tailed off, although paw prints found in the snow in 1970 generated a flurry of further reports. In 1984, hair samples taken at Peaslake
were identified as puma.
In 1967 the children's novelist Monica Edwards
wrote a fictionalised account of the Surrey Puma entitled The Wild One
.
In 1983, an alien big cat featured in The Archers
, and the Beast of Exmoor
entered the news. Sightings of the Surrey Puma were again recorded, and have continued to the present day.
Phantom cat
Phantom cats, also known as Alien Big Cats , are large felines, such as jaguars or cougars, which have been purported to appear in regions outside their indigenous range...
s, supposedly black pumas, seen around south western Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
from the 1960s onwards.
The first possible sightings were recorded in 1959, when police received a number of reports of big cats in the Farnham
Farnham
Farnham is a town in Surrey, England, within the Borough of Waverley. The town is situated some 42 miles southwest of London in the extreme west of Surrey, adjacent to the border with Hampshire...
area, near the Surrey/Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
border. Two further sightings were recorded in 1962 by water board
Water board
A water board is a regional organisation that has very different functions from one country to another, ranging from flood control, water resources management, water charging and financing, and bulk water supply.-Philippines:The...
personnel in Hampshire, while in the winter of 1962-3, a "cat-like beast" was seen at Bushylease Farm, near Crondall
Crondall
Crondall is a village and large civil parish in the north east of Hampshire, England and is all that remains of the old Hundred of Crondall referred to in the Domesday Book of 1086. Various earlier spellings have in common the use of a "u" instead of the "o" and the village is still properly...
in Hampshire. When a police officer sighted the supposed Shooters Hill Cheetah in 1963, media interest turned to other big cat sightings.
In August 1964, a bullock at Bushylease was found, severely lacerated. Following press coverage, numerous other reports of contact with the animal, dubbed the "Surrey Puma", came in, ranging from the fanciful to some taken seriously by the police. At Godalming
Godalming
Godalming is a town and civil parish in the Waverley district of the county of Surrey, England, south of Guildford. It is built on the banks of the River Wey and is a prosperous part of the London commuter belt. Godalming shares a three-way twinning arrangement with the towns of Joigny in France...
Police Station alone, 362 reports were received in a two year period. The station also kept a cast of a massive paw print on display, identified as that of a puma by London Zoo
London Zoo
London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo. It was opened in London on 27 April 1828, and was originally intended to be used as a collection for scientific study. It was eventually opened to the public in 1847...
, although several reports noted that its size implied an extremely large specimen and that there were distinct differences between it and the prints of other pumas. The investigation was not closed until the summer of 1967.
In August 1966, a former police photographer took a grainy shot which he claimed showed the Surrey Puma in Worplesdon
Worplesdon
Worplesdon is a village in Surrey, England, located three miles north of Guildford. Worplesdon is also the name of the parish that also includes the settlements of Fairlands, Jacobs Well, Perry Hill, and Wood Street Village. Nearby villages include Pirbright and Deepcut, with significant military...
. In 1968, a farmer claimed to have shot a puma, but could not provide any evidence. Sightings gradually tailed off, although paw prints found in the snow in 1970 generated a flurry of further reports. In 1984, hair samples taken at Peaslake
Peaslake
Peaslake is in the centre of the Surrey Hills area, close to the market town of Guildford, England. Surrounded by acres of forest and downland, visitors come here to walk and cycle and to enjoy the views of the local countryside. Nearby to the south is Pitch Hill which at is the fifth highest...
were identified as puma.
In 1967 the children's novelist Monica Edwards
Monica Edwards
Monica Edwards was an English children's writer of the mid-twentieth century best known for her Romney Marsh and Punchbowl Farm series of children's novels.-Early life:...
wrote a fictionalised account of the Surrey Puma entitled The Wild One
The Wild One (novel)
The Wild One is the tenth and final book in the Punchbowl Farm series of novels by Monica Edwards, published in 1967 by Collins. The book was the last Monica Edwards book to be illustrated by Geoffrey Whittam...
.
In 1983, an alien big cat featured in The Archers
The Archers
The Archers is a long-running British soap opera broadcast on the BBC's main spoken-word channel, Radio 4. It was originally billed as "an everyday story of country folk", but is now described on its Radio 4 web site as "contemporary drama in a rural setting"...
, and the Beast of Exmoor
Beast of Exmoor
The Beast of Exmoor is a cryptozoological cat that is reported to roam the fields of Exmoor in Devon and Somerset in the United Kingdom.-History:...
entered the news. Sightings of the Surrey Puma were again recorded, and have continued to the present day.