Beast of Bodmin

The Beast of Bodmin is a feline creature spotted on Bodmin Moor.

Description
The Beast is an anomalous feline creature, too large to be a house cat, that is said to slay livestock. It was reportedly sighted in the Bodmin area. Some scientists believe the Beast to be simply a modern folk tale or case of mistaken identity, as multiple cats would have had to be introduced to provide large enough breeding population. However, a significant number of big cats were thought to have been released into the British countryside during the 1970's with the introduction of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act (1976). Some people think that it may be a modern manifestation of creatures such as the Black Shuck.

History
The investigation first sparked in the 1990's, when livestock began being attacked by an unknown creature, and there were reported sightings of a panther-like cat. Some people proposed that the beast had escaped from a zoo or private owner, and as it was illegal to own one privately, the former owner could not report it to the police. After the investigation, the ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food concluded that there was no big cat in England. Less than a week later, however, a young boy found a cat skull in the same area while walking. The skull resembled that of a Leopard, and was missing it's lower jaw. However, it sparked national interest, and was sent to the natural History Museum of London for identification. They found out it was a genuine skull of a young male leopard, but the skull had been imported as part of a leopard-skin rug.