EXPERTS have revealed suspected big cat attacks in the Cotswolds were the work of a far less exotic animal.

It was thought a black leopard or puma had savaged the roe deer discovered at the Woodchester Park in Stroud last month and a second carcass found a few miles away.

But after extensive DNA tests, scientists from the University of Warwick have revealed the culprit was in fact a humble fox.

There have been a number of big black felines spotted in the Cotswolds over the past few weeks, with several reported in Cirencester and Lechlade, and witnesses were convinced these were not domestic cats.

But the results have now cast doubts over the validity of such claims.

Author and big cat expert Rick Minter insisted the results have not put an end to the idea of feral cats living and breeding in the area, and said more careful research into big cat evidence could be the next step.

Dr Robin Allaby, from the University of Warwick, took nearly 50 swabs from the roe deer found near Stroud and tested for over 30 types of cat, but said there was no sign of cat DNA on either caracass.

“Other than deer, by far the strongest genetic signal we found on the Woodchester Park carcass was from a fox,” he said. “That fox DNA was found on the ribs, legs and plucking sites from the Woodchester deer carcass.”

Although scientists are certain a big cat was not to blame for the second carcass found, tests are still ongoing to determine exactly what type of canid (for example dog or fox) species it was.

David Armstrong, head ranger for the National Trust in Gloucestershire said: “The investigation of the dead deer has really sparked off local curiosity with a lot of people coming out to Woodchester Park to explore.

“People love a mystery like this and although we haven’t found a wild cat, many of our visitors clearly believe there might be something interesting living quietly hidden in Woodchester.”