Encounter Atlas
The Beast of Exmoor is a black or tawny big cat reported on Exmoor since the 1970s. It became national news in 1983 when South Molton farmer Eric Ley said he had lost over 100 sheep in three months, all killed with savage throat wounds.
The government took the unusual step of sending Royal Marines snipers to watch the moor. They never got a clear shot, and no cat was ever found.
Sightings continue, and several big cats, including a puma caught in Scotland in 1980, have proven that exotic cats have lived wild in Britain.
What witnesses report
- A powerful black or tawny cat
- Sheep killed by throat bites
- Seen at dusk crossing lanes
Famous cases
- 1983Sheep killings and Royal Marines hunt
South Molton, Devon
Seen the Beast of Exmoor?
Tell us what happened. Every report is read by a person before it goes on the map, and you can stay anonymous.
