Big Cats (2 Viewers)

[Mike Cross]

I see yet another report of a puma/puma type in West Wales. I was wondering has one ever been seen in Britain by a birder. What I'm trying to get as in a nutshell is that so many where the outcome is proven as a domestic cat , labrador etc are reported by people who clearly haven't got a clue what they're looking at i.e. they don't spend much time in the countryside, don't have any real experience of wildlife , are dog-walkers, people on their way from the pub etc. As far as i know no birder hasa ever seen one. Despite the fact that birders spend countless hours in fairly secluded areas and spend many hours driving in such areas at dusk, night, first light and are also used to ahving to provide detailed descriptions etc,
Me I'm a firm unbeliever but if there was some reliable documented sighting I might change my mind.

 

[Mono]

There have been no "reliable documented" sightings of big cats in the UK because there are no big cats in the UK.

No experienced observer in good observation conditions has seen a big cat in the UK because there are no big cats in the UK.

A inexperienced observer gets a fleeting glimpse of something in poor condtions and you get UFOs, ghosts and Alien Big Cats galore!

 

[The sniper]

Apparently there are NO big cats in the UK.
Not even one apparently,despite plenty of reports.
Lets face it,the majority are probably false reports,but anyone who thinks there are none wandering the countryside is in my opinion completely wrong.There will be a few,obviously released/escaped animals.
The reason no observers see them is that quite simply not many observers bother looking and a cat is more likely to spot a person first and stalk them,rather than be spotted by an observer.
I don't believe there are more than a handful in the uk at any one time but I am pretty sure there's a few knocking about

 

[MSA]

There are definitely large cats in the UK, and here's photographic evidence -

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

I hate to say it but I'm a bit on the fence with this one. We have some large expanses of land sparsely populated but the why hasn't any concrete evidence turned up?

 

[Ratal]

Ray Mears has seen three on different occasions in the UK. Royal Marines I know have seen them on Dartmoor, and there are trackers down in Norfolk who have caracal footprints...

Any way, do I believe those who say they have? Yes.

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

A friend of mine said he saw one Ratal and I have no reason to disbelieve him.

Rich

Ray Mears has seen three on different occasions in the UK. Royal Marines I know have seen them on Dartmoor, and there are trackers down in Norfolk who have caracal footprints...

Any way, do I believe those who say they have? Yes.

 

[Bowlander]

Shame Ray Mears didn't have his camera!

There have been a few escaped cats, but as for a population of wild big cats - no chance.

Fair enough sightings of leopard/jaguar in their own countries are rare but scats and pug marks would be easier to find.

As the recent testing of deer carcasses found in Gloucestershire its just foxes/badgers/poachers that are responsible.

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

:-O

There are definitely large cats in the UK, and here's photographic evidence -

 

[Farnboro John]

The Highland Wildlife Park used to have a Puma that had been box-trapped by a farmer who got fed up with being laughed at in the pub for complaining that he was losing sheep to a big cat.

A Norfolk farmer shot a lynx and there are photos of the corpse.

I know British Deer Society shooters who have seen big cats on Salisbury Plain.

I saw a lynx sp in Wales years ago.

The RSPCA has intercepted Lynx intended for release for shooting.

However, the majority of records date to the rash of irresponsible releases after the Dangerous Wild Animals Act became law. Nowadays there are very few cats loose. It is possible but very very unlikely that odd pairs have bred and extended the period for whaich records may be expected. A few probably still escape, and if they are unlicensed the escapes are not going to be publicised.

John

 

[Bowlander]

Agreed. A few escapes from dodgy private collections and sightings thereof.

I can't believe that nutter who was going to release Lynx for his mates to hunt was never prosecuted!

An old colleague told me about a Kudu that escaped from a zoo that wasn't seen for a year and then got hit in an RTA less than a km away. No sightings or sign of it in between!

I want to see trail camera footage!

 

[ClarkWGriswold]

I know this is completely Off post -sorry but it was bloody frightening how quickly those Grizz in my avatar disappeared when a couple of bikers drove past. A mile or two earlier I was answering a call of nature. I now try to remember to take every safe opportunity:-O:-O

Agreed. A few escapes from dodgy private collections and sightings thereof.

I can't believe that nutter who was going to release Lynx for his mates to hunt was never prosecuted!

An old colleague told me about a Kudu that escaped from a zoo that wasn't seen for a year and then got hit in an RTA less than a km away. No sightings or sign of it in between!

I want to see trail camera footage!

 

[dantheman]

About 10 years ago I had a 'big cat' sp. cross the road, early one morning driving through a semi-residential area somewhere in the home counties. Fox sized rather than tiger sized (defo a cat not a fox )


An escaped/released jungle cat type thing (?) rather than the beast of bodmin obviously

 

[tyson7]

The Highland Wildlife Park used to have a Puma that had been box-trapped by a farmer who got fed up with being laughed at in the pub for complaining that he was losing sheep to a big cat.

A Norfolk farmer shot a lynx and there are photos of the corpse.

I know British Deer Society shooters who have seen big cats on Salisbury Plain.

I saw a lynx sp in Wales years ago.

The RSPCA has intercepted Lynx intended for release for shooting.

However, the majority of records date to the rash of irresponsible releases after the Dangerous Wild Animals Act became law. Nowadays there are very few cats loose. It is possible but very very unlikely that odd pairs have bred and extended the period for whaich records may be expected. A few probably still escape, and if they are unlicensed the escapes are not going to be publicised.

John

That's very helpful. I new about the photos of the dead Lynx.

Obviously its not good when animals are released over here that shouldn't be(although it might work out for particular species in some cases) but its still exciting to know that you could get a glimpse of a large cat in the uk when your out and about.

 

[tonyfenn]

Saw a large cat walking across a field in north norfolk a couple of years ago.
When my son was in the army, they were on a training camp in scotland, where they videoed a large cat walking into their camp one night

 

[tyson7]

Saw a large cat walking across a field in north norfolk a couple of years ago.
When my son was in the army, they were on a training camp in scotland, where they videoed a large cat walking into their camp one night

Could you get a copy of the video?

 

[tonyfenn]

Sorry the video was taken by the army and with held because in was mod land

 

[Wildmoreway]

All sorts of exotic animals escape or are released regardless of the law. No reason why someone who has decided to somehow acquire a large cat species as a "pet" (often reckless people acting illegally anyway) would not release a "large cat" when they found that it was no lobger a cute little cub or "kitten". So it is highly possible that there are a limited number of large cats out there.

A problem though is that one sighting will generate a whole load of "sightings" that are nothing more than old Mrs Finch's large ginger tom or that that big black dog from number 53 having escaped and being on the prowl. One thing though is that knowing most farmers, should it been seen on farmland it will almost certainly end up receiving a dose of lead (or enviromentally approved shot) from his shotgun.

 

[The sniper]

I think its foolish of someone to say there are no cats out there.
There have been a few examples,but not many.However,there is no doubt that some were released into the countryside a few years back when the dangerous wild animals act was introduced but I doubt any are still around or that they paired up and mated.But like anything,people get hold of things they shouldn't,like dangerous animals and when they have had enough or realised they are too big to look after they will simply let them go.If someone is stupid enough to have one as a pet,they are usually stupid enough to let them go when they out grow the persons house.
As for farmers,if a big cat was lurking on their and,yes I would expect a rage proportion of the farmers to shoot the animal before it kills their animals,not sure how many would take a chance and just report it to the authorities,knowing it could evade escape and then come back to finish off killing their stock.

 

[tyson7]

Sorry the video was taken by the army and with held because in was mod land

Thanks anyway