Does the beast of Bodmin exist?
If you’ve travelled around Cornwall at all, you’ll have certainly heard of an ominous creature – the Beast of Bodmin.
This big cat creature is alleged to roam around the moorland, with plenty of locals reporting sightings over the years!
So, could the beast of Bodmin exist? Let’s break it down.
What is Bodmin Moor?
Sitting in the middle of Cornwall, Bodmin Moor is a vast, expansive moorland known for its shrubby expanse and ominous fog.
In the past, it’s been a smuggling hotspot – which inspired Daphne Du Maurier’s book Jamaica Inn – and its uninviting terrain has been the cause for lots of mythical stories over the years!
What’s the beast of Bodmin Moor?
One of these – although many swear it’s not fictional – is the Beast of Bodmin Moor.
The beast of Bodmin is thought to be a cat-like creature who roams around the moor. Of course, Britain’s not known for its big cats, so this is largely thought to be fictional. However, there have been many stories about the beast over the years!
Beast of Bodmin sightings
The Beast of Bodmin was seen in 1983 and was described as a large cat, with yellow eyes and sharp teeth.
Since then, there have been over 60 police reports about the big cat. Some people have reported just sighting the creature in the distance, whereas others have stated that they’ve actually been chased by the beast!
More concrete evidence happened when somebody discovered a big cat skull by the River Fowey. An investigation surrounding the skull began, but it was confirmed that it was actually a leopard skull that was imported into the country as part of a leopard skin rug!
An official investigation
After report after report to the police, in 1995 the government started an investigation into the cat on Bodmin Moor. They terminated by concluding that there was no evidence to report that there was a beast on Bodmin Moor. However, they did also mention that they didn’t have any evidence to prove it didn’t exist!
What could the sightings be?
The fact that there have been 60 reports of the big cat does suggest that there’s something there – unless it’s a collective practical joke, of course!
One argument is that it could possibly be a big cat that’s escaped from a zoo or a private animal collection. In fact, there have been a couple of mentions of big cats being released into the wild in the 1970s and 80s. However, it’s doubtful that the big cats would have been able to breed enough for them still to exist here.
And some think that the big cat is a type of cat that existed in the UK centuries ago, that never became fully extinct on Cornwall’s moors – they have been inhospitable places over the years!
And of course, others connect the beast to the supernatural – Bodmin’s been the location for plenty of spooky stories, and some view the beast as another one of them.
What do you think? Practical joke or real life?
Take a look at my full guide to Bodmin town and list of the best places to visit in Cornwall.
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