THERE have been more sightings of what are believed to be big cats in the Monmouth area and sheep have again been attacked in the Talycoed area.
Monmouth Police say they have had several reports from members of the public that they have seen a big black cat since local boy Josh Hopkins was scratched in an encounter last August.
Sgt Mike Gray said: "The description given often compares the cat in size with a Labrador and with a big tail held out straight. Sightings include the animal crossing the road and crossing fields towards woodland. Most reports have been in the Trellech, Catbrook and Lydart areas.
"In recent weeks, however, farmers have attributed attacks on their sheep to the animal. A local farmer in the Talycoed area of Monmouth has suffered three separate attacks on his sheep flock and has no doubt that dogs were not responsible. Several sheep have been killed and others injured.
"The most recent attack was discovered on Friday when two adult sheep were found dead and a third injured."
Sgt Gray, who is investigating the incident, said he also believes that dogs were not responsible. A local vet has examined the carcasses and said he has not seen wounds like those inflicted on sheep by dogs.
Further inquiries are being made and specialists in the field consulted.
Sgt Gray has asked people who think they may have seen a big cat to report it to police. He is also advising farmers to be aware that attacks on livestock "may be due to an animal not normally associated with such occurrences".
Local big cat consultant Danny Nineham said this is the second time sheep at Talycoed have been attacked. The first attack was more than two weeks ago. Since then there has been a lull, but then more sheep were attacked on Friday.
"From the carcasses I examined I would say that a cat jumped on its back to put it off balance and then inflicted four sets of lacerations on the neck before biting it. There is no other damage.
"The puncture wounds are more than two inches across which suggest a big animal.
"Dogs usually go for the back of the sheep first to get it down, but these sheep seem to have been attacked in a different way. I am convinced that it is a big cat."
Mr Nineham said there had been a number of puma and leopard sightings in the area for at least seven years.
Big cats living in the wild were a national problem which was getting worse and we had to learn to live with them to some extent.
"My goal is education. People need to get educated about the cats. We need to learn to live with them," he said.
He has given a number of talks to local groups, ranging from the police to WIs and is now launching the British Big Cat Society to make people more aware of the situation.