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Dog walker spots 'Beast of Bucks'
10:00am Tuesday 27th February 2007
Comments (53)THE Beast of Bucks has returned to High Wycombe once again after the mysterious creature was spotted by a dogwalker in the town.
For years locals have reported brief glimpses of a large cat, believed to be a puma, stalking the area.
The latest sighting came last week, after a Wycombe man got a shock while out walking his dog on The Rye when he spotted the animal.
Danny Latham-Symes, of Colbourne Road, was by the river near London Road, last Saturday evening at around sunset.
Mr Latham-Symes told Midweek: "My dog stopped in his tracks and stood dead still. His eyes were fixed on the tree line on the opposite bank of the river.
"As I moved to where he stood, I too caught a glimpse of what I believe to be a mountain lion, which is more commonly known as a puma.
"She was crouched among some nettles, and she seemed totally oblivious to my presence. She was there for less than ten seconds and then wandered off into the thicker undergrowth.
"I would desperately like to know if anyone else has seen this creature in the Rye area, or anywhere in Wycombe and its surrounding woods and fields, for my own sanity more than anything else!"
In May 2001 animal experts confirmed that a large cat spotted at Wycombe Heights golf course was a young puma, after taking a cast of the animal's paw.
Two weeks later a half eaten deer was found off Gomm Road.
Then, in 2003, workers at the Ercol factory in Princes Risborough reported seeing a creature resembling a puma prowling across the edge of a field.
But even before then, since 1994, there have been reported sightings of "The Hughenden Puma," in the area stretching between Upper Dean and the northern outskirts of High Wycombe.
Many zoologists believe Britain has had a healthy population of jungle cats for years, but the numbers rose sharply in the 1970s when the Dangerous Wild Animal's Act forced many people to get rid of exotic pets.
If anyone has seen the legendary creature stalking the county, please contact the newsdesk on 01494 755081, or email bfpnews@london.newsquest.co.uk
Your Say YourBucks Free Press
becky, flackwell says...
11:00am Tue 27 Feb 07
There were also reports several years ago of a sighting at wycombe heights golf club.
SlowMo, says...
12:13pm Tue 27 Feb 07
Richard, tylers green says...
12:19pm Tue 27 Feb 07
6 months ago, walking through **** lane in Penn i saw the beast. it was creeping around the woodland by the roadside.......it walked right up to me and said "dear when we get home could you fix that tap in the bathroom, this new diets going through me like a porche and its very offputting that drip".
the big cat encyclopedia, Wycombe Library says...
12:39pm Tue 27 Feb 07
ely if there was really a big cat it wouldve attacked someone by now
****
Why would it attack someone? Very few big cats attack humans in the whole world, it is simply territorial or if they have been disturbed. If we had a man-eater on the lose I am sure people would be making more of an effort to catch it.
A Puma is not a BIG big cat and they roam freely accross the American countryside without people being overly concerned by them unless they start attacking their livestock.
They are only a bother if they start entering into built up areas, but thankfully there seems to be enough green-belt left around Wycombe to prevent this cat attempting it. It may also get put off by the domestic cats who have marked their own territory.
Tweety Pie, In a cage says...
12:47pm Tue 27 Feb 07
Peter, down the rye looking says...
12:59pm Tue 27 Feb 07
alan jones, says...
1:09pm Tue 27 Feb 07
TheMoreThingsChange..., Deepest Wycombe says...
1:49pm Tue 27 Feb 07
John, Wycombe says...
1:50pm Tue 27 Feb 07
I feel I'm missing out somewhat :-(
Mr Posh, Seer Green says...
1:54pm Tue 27 Feb 07
Jane Spearman, The Queens Head says...
2:46pm Tue 27 Feb 07
the big cat ency.... etc, etc says...
3:00pm Tue 27 Feb 07
Not least cos you'd be walking around a urban area with a loaded weapon.
blondie, says...
3:12pm Tue 27 Feb 07
Yellowbelly, studley green says...
3:41pm Tue 27 Feb 07
alan jones, says...
4:09pm Tue 27 Feb 07
gertrude, kndnd@bkjscvbb.com says...
4:51pm Tue 27 Feb 07
gertrude, kndnd@bkjscvbb.com says...
5:15pm Tue 27 Feb 07
NESSY, says...
5:50pm Tue 27 Feb 07
alfred_wainwright, marlow says...
6:23pm Tue 27 Feb 07
anon2, says...
9:44pm Tue 27 Feb 07
lucifer, gerrards cross says...
9:56pm Tue 27 Feb 07
anon2 wrote:
i think its appaulling that this creature is being referred as a beast.Animals deserve just as much respect as humans.
quote
oh please!
Ian, Zambia says...
6:57am Wed 28 Feb 07
the big cat encyclopedia, Despair says...
8:40am Wed 28 Feb 07
why would a puma be put off coming into areas cos of the scent of domestic cats...hed surely eat them for breakfast.......what a ****! ha ha
**************
Because it's a territorial thing! Jeez people do some research, this thread is really showing up you people for the ignorant scrotes the rest of the country think you are.
Tweety Pie, In a cage says...
8:54am Wed 28 Feb 07
"I tort I saw a puddy tat....I DID! I DID! see a BIG puddy tat"
??????, says...
3:57pm Wed 28 Feb 07
i think its appaulling that this creature is being referred as a beast.Animals deserve just as much respect as humans.i agree with anon2 !! so what if there is a puma on the loose if it was going to hrm someone or something it would have done it by now.. i also think that people should just ignore it, if you saw a larger than normal house cat you wouldn't fret so why you all doing it now??
anon2, says...
4:01pm Wed 28 Feb 07
lucifer wrote:hi its anon2 again what do you mean oh please,because if you didnt already know humans are animals themselves so basically you're trying to say we dont have rights so you better think before you write something!!got it ??
anon2 wrote: i think its appaulling that this creature is being referred as a beast.Animals deserve just as much respect as humans.quoteoh please!
Nessy, says...
4:28pm Wed 28 Feb 07
Anon2
If you look up Beast in the dictionary you'd find that the definition of beast is a large OR dangerous animal other than a human. As the reports are of a large cat like animal a valid discription of this animal would be a beast. ?????? I very much doubt that anyone is fretting about it. Have either of you ever heard of irony?
anon2, says...
7:29pm Wed 28 Feb 07
??????, says...
7:38pm Wed 28 Feb 07
anon2, says...
7:40pm Wed 28 Feb 07
anon2, says...
7:44pm Wed 28 Feb 07
anon2, says...
7:45pm Wed 28 Feb 07
anon2, says...
7:47pm Wed 28 Feb 07
anon2, says...
7:57pm Wed 28 Feb 07
Nessy wrote:if it was A DANGEROUS CREATURE dont you think it would have done something by now
Ha Ha Ha Anon2 If you look up Beast in the dictionary you'd find that the definition of beast is a large OR dangerous animal other than a human. As the reports are of a large cat like animal a valid discription of this animal would be a beast. ?????? I very much doubt that anyone is fretting about it. Have either of you ever heard of irony?
Elliott Ness, Booker says...
8:08pm Wed 28 Feb 07
anon2 wrote:"then why have cressex had the best GCSE results for two years now ??"
and btw peter if you think that cressex is rubbish then why have cressex had the best GCSE results for two years now ?? huh huh ?it doesn't matter who goes its just about learning and the teachers teach us very well
THE BEST?
Oh I see the best IT'S ever had...
Looking at the league tables onw wonders what tables you're looking at? Do a local search the tables allow you to do that so one can compare and then just take a look at ALL the others above cressex.
Jesus when are these idiots going to admit you can't polish a turd!
anon2, says...
8:22pm Wed 28 Feb 07
pupil from cressex, says...
8:31pm Wed 28 Feb 07
i don't see why nobody likes cressex school can someone please explain to e??
and for all the people that assume iut i am not a muslim i am white and christian!!
Nessy, holiday from the Loch says...
8:42pm Wed 28 Feb 07
?????? Yes I have heard of animal rights and as this animal has only been glimpsed by a few people and probably has no access to a computer or any grasp of the written word it will not be offended or had it's rights violated. If that was the case half the domestic tom cats would be up in arms because their owner saw fit to name them Fluffy! Oh look irony again!
If you really think that anyone in their right mind will go out hunting for an animal that could be nothing but a over fed moggy or an over active imagination, then your out of your tree!!!!
I hope there is a beast, if the Himalayas can have a Yeti and Loch Ness can have a monster (Sorry Nessy didn't mean to offend)why can't we have a Beast?
Long live the Beast of Bucks.
anon2, says...
8:52pm Wed 28 Feb 07
SlowMo wrote:i agree
surely if there was really a big cat it wouldve attacked someone by now i dont believe it exists only in the mad people of bucks minds
Beast of Bucks, The Rye says...
8:54pm Wed 28 Feb 07
Thank you
Mr Beast O Bucks
puma lover, the rye says...
8:00am Thu 1 Mar 07
If it ever does attack someone though I hope its the scummy yobs who loiter down there who just need a good beating instead of spraying graffiti on trees and walls. Think their parents need a good smack too..
Elliot Hess, Booker says...
8:47am Thu 1 Mar 07
puma lover wrote:Bet they went to cressex...
I really hope I do see the Puma on the rye..how cool.!! If it ever does attack someone though I hope its the scummy yobs who loiter down there who just need a good beating instead of spraying graffiti on trees and walls. Think their parents need a good smack too..
The big cat encyclopdia, up a tree says...
10:18am Thu 1 Mar 07
From wikipedia. Look up Cougar (the true name for Puma or Mountain Lion). Learn some facts.
Though it says on there it might eat domestic cats so I stand corrected.
Lion-O, Lord of the Thundercats, The Cats' Lair says...
10:22am Thu 1 Mar 07
Santa little helper, rye says...
12:36pm Thu 1 Mar 07
anonymous, says...
4:42pm Fri 2 Mar 07
the big cat ency.... etc wrote:since when did shooting a pigoen break any laws ??? iv shot loads to keep them from eating the local farmers crop and never been in trouble once !
Killing a pigeon breaks all kinds of laws so shooting the cat in anything other than self-defence I am sure would be considered illegal. Not least cos you\\\'d be walking around a urban area with a loaded weapon.
Tweety Pie, In a cage says...
10:30am Tue 6 Mar 07
"I tort I saw a puddy tat....I DID! I DID! see a BIG puddy tat"
Mark, says...
7:08pm Tue 6 Mar 07
123456, Wycombe says...
8:37pm Wed 7 Mar 07
wat do u call the half eaten deer u gimp
Holmer, Town says...
8:59am Thu 8 Mar 07
123456 wrote:A half eaten deer!
if it was A DANGEROUS CREATURE dont you think it would have done something by now wat do u call the half eaten deer u gimp
mark, Marlow says...
3:12pm Thu 8 Mar 07
123456 wrote:If it was that dangerous it would've eaten the whole thing!!! eating just half pathetic.
if it was A DANGEROUS CREATURE dont you think it would have done something by now wat do u call the half eaten deer u gimp
Anyway am I the only one who caught Russell Brands show at the swan. He was discussing this article and someone in the audiance revealed he knew Danny Latham-Symes and he didn't even have a dog and was making it up. The geezer in the audiance also had dannys number on his mobile which Russell phoned and called him a Liar :o)
Just a, Bloke says...
8:40pm Thu 8 Mar 07
Puma - the type of cat thought to be roaming around High Wycombe
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Nathan, Wycombe says...
10:06am Tue 27 Feb 07