History’s mysteries

There’s no end to the tall tales and suspicious stories that have passed from generation to generation across our region. From Viking visitors who left without so much as a farewell to aquatic animals to rival Scotland’s Loch Ness Monster, we’ve rounded up a few of our favourites to intrigue you.

Wild visitors

Across Cheshire people have reported big cat sightings over the years, and even shared images online of what they believe is a mysterious panther roaming the area.

Rumours of black panther sightings have been circulating in Cheshire and North Wales for years. Despite the lack of concrete evidence, residents continue to report seeing big cats roaming the area. While some maintain they are leopards or jaguars, others believe that they are a separate species altogether. Regardless of their origins, black panthers have long been associated with danger, making them the subject of much fascination.

In Cheshire, as the number of reports increased, local authorities began to take notice and investigate. Most recently, in September 2021, there was a spate of sightings in Heswall on the Wirral, many of which were reported to local action group Puma Watch.

Despite the experts’ efforts, no concrete evidence has been found to date. Even paw prints have yet to be confirmed as belonging to panthers. Many of the supposed sightings have been found to be hoaxes, by individuals seeking to stir up fear or steal the headlines.

Many argue that sightings are simply some of the exotic animals kept as pets in the area, which have escaped or been released into the wild. When big cats were banned as pets in the 1970s, it was legal to release them into the countryside to avoid rehoming costs. Owners from across the UK travelled to Cheshire and Wales to release their cats in the remote environment where, rumour has it, small but significant populations have thrived ever since.

Keep an eye on the cat activity at www.pumawatch.co.uk

DID YOU KNOW?

Pumas have been known to jump 6 metres (20 feet) up or down a hillside. That’s the height of many two-storey buildings!