featured-image

Big cat sightings in the British countryside have been linked to dumped ‘trophy’ pets by two seasoned investigators. Members of the public have photographed and filmed what appear to be non-native creatures in the wild, but definitive proof remains elusive. In one of the latest sightings, what appeared to be a large cat was photographed on trail cameras set up in Gloucestershire.

The tantalising glimpse in woodland is said to show the exotic-looking creature ‘sniffing the ground’ in woodland. Rick Minter, who hosts the Big Cat Conversations podcast, told Metro.co.



uk that the report is far from unusual. ‘People across Britain routinely report and describe the same three types of large cat,’ he said. ‘Black leopards, the sandy-brown mountain lion and the lynx, which is Britain’s former native cat.

‘They are all generalists; very versatile and super stealthy. ‘People’s dogs and horses react to them too, so the encounters are rarely people making mistakes.’ The presenter is among those searching for clear evidence — such as close-up camera trap photos, toothmarks on bones and DNA — to verify the presence of feral big cats in the UK.

‘A few private landowners and stalkers have managed to film big cats but they mainly hang on to their photos and footage, not wanting to draw attention to their land,’ he said. ‘Because the cats seem to stick to natural game, and rarely switch to sheep, most people in the know end up respecting these predators and see.

Back to Fashion Page