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Beast of Exmoor

Reports of the Beast of Exmoor date back to at least the early 1970s from the people of Devonshire, England. The panther-like creature, which was named in 1983, is said to kill livestock and terrorize people during the night.

It was during 1983 when over one hundred livestock were killed on the farm of Eric Ley, in South Molten. The London Daily Express soon placed a reward for the capture or death of the slaughterer. Marine sharpshooters were stationed in the hills, hoping to exterminate the creature and end the bloodshed. While the soldiers were in position, the attacks ceased. Although some claimed to have caught sight of the creature, none of the soldiers were able to get a clear shot at the animal. After a period of nonviolence the sharpshooters were removed and attacks once again started.

The Beast of Exmoor is said to resemble a large panther- nearly eight feet long from nose to tail and jet-black. Roughly one fifth the people who see the creature claim its color to be tan, which may be concurred by the fact that some have reported a tan and black creature together.

Trevor Beer, a local naturalist who happened to be bird watching in the creatures hunting zone, claimed to have had a close encounter with the beast. As Beer watched, the terror walked from a collection of bushes and into the man's line of sight. Beer claimed the head was otter-like with small ears and the eyes of the creature were greeny-yellow, helping to distracted from the "thickish neck and powerful looking forelegs." Beer seems to have been lucky- the creature quickly turned and dashed into the void of darkness.

Some researchers believe witnesses may just be misidentifying known creatures. Due to the overwhelming evidence, though, this theory has been mostly abandoned. Most now believe the creatures are simply escaped pet cats whose size is being over-estimated.