Big cats in the UK (2 Viewers)

[ta brandreth]

i regularly see one foraging on the bank of the m25 clockwise between potters bar and the A10 junction (24-25 i believe)

Panther?

 

[Andy1979]

Many years ago, as an army cadet, I spent a lot of time on the Pippingford Park (nr Crowborough, E Sussex) training area. On one occasion two of us were walking along (aged about 15 or 16) and there was snow all over the area. We saw what we believed to be a large cat skulking along the skyline in the late evening. We went up to the area and found several large footprints. The next day, we found a deer leg in the middle of some rough ground. It had been torn off and was nowhere near any fences etc. We were convinced it was a large cat and presumed escape, but never did anything about it or reported it.

 

[The sniper]

i must say,they cat on his blog is pretty convincing,but obviously just by looking at a photo doesnt actually tell you where it was taken and nowadays it is so easy to falsify such photos that unless you see the original and visit the place to tie the two up you cannot positively say yay or nay

 

[The sniper]

Panther?

ha ha,sorry,no a muntjac lol

 

[The sniper]

Many years ago, as an army cadet, I spent a lot of time on the Pippingford Park (nr Crowborough, E Sussex) training area. On one occasion two of us were walking along (aged about 15 or 16) and there was snow all over the area. We saw what we believed to be a large cat skulking along the skyline in the late evening. We went up to the area and found several large footprints. The next day, we found a deer leg in the middle of some rough ground. It had been torn off and was nowhere near any fences etc. We were convinced it was a large cat and presumed escape, but never did anything about it or reported it.

Andy,somewhere like crowborough or the surrounding areas would no doubt be a good place,there are large prey items,large areas of forest where such a beast could probably live without too much disturbance.In fact there are plenty of areas which could support the odd cat here and there with probably just the odd sighting from time to time

 

[Mike Richardson]

Those who believe in alien big cats often highlight how these animals can survive on the edge of civilisation in various countries around the world. This fact is true. Mountain Lions are increasingly found in the suburbs of US cities such as LA. Leopards are commonly entering urban environments in South Africa, India and China.

The elusive nature of these animals mean that they are rarely seen, going undetected for weeks at a time. However, they are still seen often enough for (quality) photographs to be taken every now and then. They leave enough tracks and sign for individual cats to be identified. Rarely they attack people; often they attack dogs (leopards are well known for eating dogs). Occasionally an animal is run over and many cats are shot by the police, worried homeowners etc.

If large cats are roaming the UK (a densely populated island with few ‘wild areas’), why hasn’t any of the above been properly documented?

 

[The sniper]

Whats to say that maybe the odd one has been found dead after being hit or dead by natural means and just hasn't been reported for whatever reason,not saying that would happen but someone did point out something similar earlier in the thread,it wouldnt be the first time police/authorities have covered something up for the benefit of the local population.
Imagine if one particular country park had a panther found dead,the place would either be awash with us nature bods all looking for signs of more but on a down side many families would stop using such parks until they were deemed safe for their kids to play in,this could take months or even years

 

[David FG]

Whats to say that maybe the odd one has been found dead after being hit or dead by natural means and just hasn't been reported for whatever reason,not saying that would happen but someone did point out something similar earlier in the thread,it wouldnt be the first time police/authorities have covered something up for the benefit of the local population.
Imagine if one particular country park had a panther found dead,the place would either be awash with us nature bods all looking for signs of more but on a down side many families would stop using such parks until they were deemed safe for their kids to play in,this could take months or even years

You have a lot more faith in the abilities of the police to keep things secret than I do.

If they can't keep the fact that they shoot the wrong people secret (which I would have thought that they would be very keen indeed to do), what chance have they of hiding anything else?

 

[The sniper]

to be honest,although i make you right,i think it would be easier to keep something like a possible beast quiet and if it did leak out i doubt it would make the same level of furore as a cover up of a shooting would

 

[Mike Richardson]

You have a lot more faith in the abilities of the police to keep things secret than I do.

If they can't keep the fact that they shoot the wrong people secret (which I would have thought that they would be very keen indeed to do), what chance have they of hiding anything else?

I remember a Lion that was sighted in rural East Yorkshire over a decade ago. There were armed police, Sea King helicopters, local news teams etc. Hardly a covert operation. They never did find the Lion...

 

[The sniper]

its just turned up at my front door to deliver me a curry

 

[David FG]

I remember a Lion that was sighted in rural East Yorkshire over a decade ago. There were armed police, Sea King helicopters, local news teams etc. Hardly a covert operation. They never did find the Lion...

Quite; shooting big cats in public places is a bit difficult to keep quiet even if you are good at hiding things.

 

[The sniper]

I would suggest a lion is in a different category than maybe a lynx though,a lion would almost certainly attack a human unless he/she had just stocked up on the local deer population 5 minutes earlier,whereas the cats which are frequently reported,although still dangerous pose a much smaller threat to man

 

[Apodemus]

..............it wouldnt be the first time police/authorities have covered something up for the benefit of the local population.
Imagine if one particular country park had a panther found dead,the place would either be awash with us nature bods all looking for signs of more but on a down side many families would stop using such parks until they were deemed safe for their kids to play in,this could take months or even years

Ahhh - the missing link. Of course, we don't just have populations of big cats living un-recorded in our countryside, we also have an official cover-up. Now it makes sense.

 

[Mysticete]

what would be the motivation for the police keeping British big cats a secret?

Another factor is if there was an established population of big cat, where are the attacks. As others have mentioned, Cougars can quite easily live close to large human population centers, however in such areas (chiefly Colorado and California) attacks on pets are common, and there are many records of cougars going after people.

 

[The sniper]

No one has said that smart alec,they are just suggestions

 

[jurek]

Hi, BTW, Darren Naish' Tetrapodzoology book has plenty of better reads (that is, solid science and not controversial). Apparently Shoebills hunt by a technique called face plant...

 

[Barred Wobbler]

I remember a Lion that was sighted in rural East Yorkshire over a decade ago. There were armed police, Sea King helicopters, local news teams etc. Hardly a covert operation. They never did find the Lion...

There was a lion sighted in Catalonia only last year. They spent 100,000 euros tracking it down and shooting it, at which point it was finally seen for what it was.

http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=168490

I would think the vast, and I do mean vast, majority of UK "cat" sightings fall into a similar category. It's notable that most of the large "cats" are the same colour as black labradors.

 

[David FG]

There was a lion sighted in Catalonia only last year. They spent 100,000 euros tracking it down and shooting it, at which point it was finally seen for what it was.

http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=168490

I would think the vast, and I do mean vast, majority of UK "cat" sightings fall into a similar category. It's notable that most of the large "cats" are the same colour as black labradors.

And those that aren't are the colour of Yellow Labradors...

Must be just coincidence, eh?

 

[Apodemus]

Normally about the size of a large dog....