If you go down to Stroud Brewery you might be in for a big cat surprise!
A panther has been spotted on the canal towpath near the popular brewery and as part of the recent Stroud Paint Festival, artist Andy Council painted his version of the Five Valleys Panther.
Andy explained his thoughts behind painting the elusive beast, he said: “I made the piece relevant to the area as it is a panther made up of Stroud
buildings jumping through fields of the five valleys.
“I based this on the many sightings of big cats in the Stroud and Nailsworth area. I’ve titled the piece ‘Five Valleys Panther’ but you’ll notice at the bottom
of the piece I have written ‘Size of a Labrador’, this is a bit of a
good natured humour around the fact that it always comes up as a size
comparison.”
Big Cat Conversations podcaster Rick Minter welcomed the artwork, he said: “I’m chuffed to see Andy’s panther design as part of the Street Art
Festival. Perhaps art can play a key role in raising awareness of the
large cats reported in Gloucestershire and the Stroud area.
“Having it positioned near the brewery is rather apt, given there is a
Big Cat brand of ale sold by Stroud Brewery. That general area around
Thrupp, Chalford and Brimscombe has its fair share of credible
reports.
“We had leopard DNA announced in Gloucestershire last year from a black
hair sample. That backs up the witness reports that describe these
cats as a good match for a black leopard, also called panther.
“Black leopards breed on black, and their main native refuge is the
Malay Peninsula, but they seem to be quietly adapting to the woods and
valleys of Britain, having been dumped and discarded by people in the
past. As we debate ways of controlling deer, it seems these cats are
secretly on the case already.
“Many people tell me they are fascinated about these stealthy cats, and
I’m sure Andy’s panther design will get more people talking.”
