DNA results show no big cat evidence (From Gazette Series)

DNA results show no big cat evidence on deer carcasses in Gloucestershire

7:00am Thursday 2nd February 2012 in Gloucestershire news By Liza-Jane Gillespie

DNA results carried out on deer carcasses found in the county have concluded there is no big cat in Gloucestershire.

The National Trust asked for the tests to be done after a deer was found dead within the grounds of Woodchester Park near Stroud in January.

Examination of the wounds led to speculation that it may have been killed by a big cat.

However, comprehensive DNA tests have found fox DNA on the carcass.

Test were also run on a second deer carcass found just miles from the first.

Dr Robin Allaby, associate professor at the School of Life Sciences at the University of Warwick, which carried out the tests, said: "We did not detect cat DNA on either deer carcass. Other than deer, by far the strongest genetic signal we found on the Woodchester Park carcass was from a fox.

"That fox DNA was found on the ribs, legs and plucking sites from the Woodchester deer carcass."

Dr Allaby said they found canid DNA, from a dog, on the second carcass, which need further detailed analysis.

Dr Allaby took 45 samples in total from the wounds of the deer carcasses with the aim of testing specifically for DNA from the saliva of any canid, for instance dog or fox, or felid, cat species, which had killed, or scavenged from the deer.

David Armstrong, head ranger for the National Trust in Gloucestershire, said: "The story of the investigation of the dead deer has really sparked off local curiosity with a lot of people coming out to Woodchester Park to explore.

"People love a mystery like this and although we haven’t found a wild cat, many of our visitors clearly believe there might be something interesting living quietly hidden in Woodchester."