Bodmin Moor incident - 3 witnesses, one shared sighting, no explanation

I'm posting this as a documentation point for the Quirk Reports archive. This incident happened about eight months ago, and I've only recently convinced the witnesses to allow me to post their account.

Date: 17th May 2023, 11:00 PM
Location: Bodmin Moor, Cornwall (specific coordinates available to moderators on request)
Witnesses: Three experienced hikers, no prior paranormal interests
Duration: Approximately 90 seconds of direct observation, maybe 5 minutes total incident time including approach

All three witnessed a large quadrupedal creature, estimated 7-9 feet in length, covered in what appeared to be dark fur. The animal moved across open moorland with visible musculature and an unusual gait. Not a dog, not a sheep, not a horse. One witness is a zoologist who specialises in carnivores and was genuinely puzzled.

The creature appeared to notice them, watched them for roughly 30 seconds while maintaining distance (~100 metres), then withdrew slowly toward a rocky outcrop. No vocalisation, no aggression, no indication of whether it was wild or domesticated.

No photos - all three witnesses froze, which in hindsight they're frustrated about. But their accounts are independent (they separated immediately after), mutually corroborating, and detailed.

Possibilities being considered: escaped big cat (circus animal, private collection), genuinely unknown cryptid species, hoax. Looking for context from the community.

The Bodmin Moor 'beast' has form. There have been carnivore reports from that area for years. I'm inclined to think escaped exotic animal, probably a puma or similar. The UK has more loose big cats than people realise - private collections, circuses, occasionally deliberate releases by conspiracy-minded individuals.

7-9 feet is enormous for an unknown British cryptid. That size requires food resources that would be extremely visible - remains, tracks, livestock predation patterns. If this creature existed as a breeding population, we'd have circumstantial evidence beyond three sightings.

The fact that all three witnesses have different fields and don't know each other well is genuinely compelling. Group hallucination is possible but unlikely with strangers. Coordinated hoax is possible but apparently unwarranted. This falls into that category of 'genuinely unexplained but probably has a mundane explanation.'

Not a dog, not a sheep, not a horse. One witness is a zoologist who specialises in carnivores and was genuinely puzzled.

The 100-metre distance and poor lighting conditions create massive room for misidentification. I'm not saying these witnesses are unreliable - but distance, light, surprise, and adrenaline all distort perception. Could genuinely have been a large feral dog or a deer viewed from an unusual angle.

Publish their full account (with names if they're willing) and contact the Devon and Cornwall Police wildlife liaison. If the creature is real and carnivorous, it's potentially a public safety issue. Authorities have resources for tracking and documentation.