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dailyrecord.co.uk Grampian, Scotland Big cats could be on the prowl in Scotland after almost 200 sightings of the beasts north of the Border. Scottish police forces have investigated 185 reports of the fierce creatures in the past six years, according to figures released yesterday. Grampian is the big cat hot spot, with 55 sightings of the mystery animals, followed by Fife, with 42. In the Strathclyde area, police have investigated 27 sightings, using helicopters on four occasions to track the beasts, and there were 30 reports of big cats in Lothian. Central Scotland is the safest place to be, with just three of the animals spotted. In Tayside, the beasts were spotted 13 times, while 15 were reported in Dumfries and Galloway, according to data obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. Research group Big Cats in Britain plan to erect cameras in remote areas to try to capture an image of the animals. They believe the true number of sightings is much higher than the official figure and want to gather evidence. Shaun Stevens, a Scottish representative of the group, said: "We register three sightings a week in Scotland. "Many people never report what they've seen. I believe there could be up to 40 big cats roaming wild in Scotland." There are several theories on the origins of the big cats, with some claiming they are the descendants of escaped animals. Others believe there is a native species of wild cat that has never been identified but has a round head, black body and pointed ears.
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