This is a map of recent sightings, you can zoom in on the South Coast and click on the markers to see the stories behind them.
With thanks to the Big Cats in Britain website
■ Aug 2005: Hayling Island – tan puma positioning itself to jump off garage roof.
■ Sep 2005: Broadlands Estate, Romsey – black panther/jaguar calmly strolling in front of car.
■ Oct 2005: Compton, Winchester – big cat-like creature stalking domestic cats.
■ Nov 2005: Romsey – large cat/panther watching something in bushes.
■ Jan 2006: Shedfield – black/dark grey puma.
■ March 2006: West Wellow – panther with large yellow eyes.
■ March 2006: Alton – large cat with piercing eyes.
■ Feb 2008: Burley Road, Bransgore – black big cat looking across a field.
■ March 2008: Opposite Cliddesden Primary School, Basingstoke – black big cat sitting in field.
■ March 2008: Hazeley Road, Twyford – tawny brown big cat racing across the road.
■ May 2008: Alresford bypass – big cat twoand- a-half times the size of a domestic cat.
■ July 2008: St Peter’s Church, Hayling Island – black big cat the size of a greyhound calmly walking through graveyard .
■ Aug 2008: Drove Lane, Alresford – puma-like creature “slunk” across the road.
■ Sep 2008: Brockenhurst side of New Forest – lion colour, larger than a fox but walked like a cat, disappeared through wire fence
Figures from Forestry Commission, Hampshire Police and Big Cats in Britain
