Big Cat

[Brixsmaid]

Can the Big Game hunters express their thoughts on the latest alleged, possible big cat sighting http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4415922/Panther-like-beast-spotted-Crowcombe-Park-Gate.html

 

Personally, I have a problem, considering how many pest controllers are out their that a carcass has never been presented to the UK population, unless it doesn't come under AOLQ on the license and people are worried about their ticket and shooting one for pest control purposes!

[inthedark]

I love one of the comments following the article - 'definately a panther, or maybe a giraffe'

 

Same old farce we've all seen before

[old man]

A bit fishy maybe.

 

On the different photos its profile seems unchanged to me in relation to the landscape which is impossible for something moving.

What do you think?

[kyska]

They are, or were definitely about. I doubt any now due to no breeding opportunity.

[Vince Green]

They were certainly around in quite big numbers thirty odd years ago in Hertfordshire and everyone knew they were there and how they got there.

 

Allegedly ones were shot too or found dead but the Ministry of Agriculture took them away 'for analysis' and they were never seen again. Basically it was all hushed up. I think they feared having floods of compensation claims from farmers for lost livestock.

 

They were exotic pets that were owned quite legally, I know somebody who's family had one in Muswell Hill of all places. When they got too big (they were sold as cubs usually) people couldn't cope with them, or they escaped.

 

Then the law changed and a lot were turned out into the wild to fend for themselves.

 

Its not a big mystery, its not a mystery at all. It does appear that down in the west country some have managed to survive and breed

Edited April 18, 2017 by Vince Green

[washerboy]

An old friend of mine shot a spotted jungle cat, it was like a leopard in miniature. It had been taking pheasants on the shoot he helped run and got its self stuck in a Larson trap so was depatched

[inthedark]

They were certainly around in quite big numbers thirty odd years ago in Hertfordshire and everyone knew they were there and how they got there.

 

Allegedly ones were shot too or found dead but the Ministry of Agriculture took them away 'for analysis' and they were never seen again. Basically it was all hushed up. I think they feared having floods of compensation claims from farmers for lost livestock.

 

They were exotic pets that were owned quite legally, I know somebody who's family had one in Muswell Hill of all places. When they got too big (they were sold as cubs usually) people couldn't cope with them, or they escaped.

 

Then the law changed and a lot were turned out into the wild to fend for themselves.

 

Its not a big mystery, its not a mystery at all. It does appear that down in the west country some have managed to survive and breed

 

Do you have any hard evidence?

[kyska]

 

Do you have any hard evidence?

Hard evidence for what? It's a known fact when the DWA required a licence lots of people let a myriad of animals to fend for themselves.

[inthedark]

Hard evidence of an exotic cat living wild and free range in the UK (not a Maine Coon or American Bobtail) Anything counts, not just the 'big four' so lynx, puma, whatever.

[kyska]

They went somewhere! many not accounted for.

[GingerCat]

The local rag printed a story about one in my village apparently seen by someone to boot.

Very doubtful but with a hefty sloe gin anything is possible.

[catchthepigeonmutley]

Shouldn't take anything Arthur Conan Doyle said too seriously......the guy believed in fairies.

[inthedark]

They went somewhere! many not accounted for.

 

No evidence though, as is normal. I'd love to be convinced, but they aint there.

[zipdog]

Its almost a fashionable thing for a village to have one.

[Vince Green]

 

Do you have any hard evidence?

Why should I? does anybody really care? Its history.

 

Thirty five years ago I lived and shot regularly in the area around Rebourn, Tring, Ashridge etc. Cats were just an accepted fact of life.

 

True I never saw one but the evidence then seemed to be overwhelming, nobody though it was odd, they knew where they had come from and how they came to be in the wild. The farmers, shooters, dog walkers and gamekeepers just accepted them as fact.

 

I find it suprising that anyone would doubt it. Loads of them were sold, there are pictures of people out walking them in the 60s down the Kings Road Chelsea on a Sunday morning. They were considered fashionable, you could even buy them in Harrods.

 

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14240681

 

 

This is like the biggest non story in the last forty years. They were bought by idiots, released by idiots and it happened. That's it, whats to doubt?

Edited April 19, 2017 by Vince Green

[inthedark]

Why should I? (I was just asking) does anybody really care? (probably not) Its history. (really?)

 

Thirty five years ago I lived and shot regularly in the area around Rebourn, Tring, Ashridge etc. Cats were just an accepted fact (rumour) of life.

 

True I never saw one (that's the whole point) but the evidence then seemed to be overwhelming (detail?), nobody though it was odd, they knew where they had come from and how they came to be in the wild. The farmers, shooters, dog walkers and gamekeepers just accepted them as fact. (because they knew someone who had talked to someone in the pub who's mate had seen one)

 

I find it suprising that you would doubt it. (I do though, and just want to see some hard fact) Loads (come on, some, maybe . . . ) of them were sold, there are pictures of people out walking them on the internet down the kings road on a Sunday morning..

 

This is like the biggest non story in the last forty years. (agreed) They were bought by idiots, (probably) released by idiots (maybe) and it happened. That's it, whats to doubt? What's to doubt is that no one's ever seen one, no one's ever seen tracks, spoor, kills etc etc. In the example above, you shot regularly around Redborn, Tring, and Ashridge where there were exotic cats present, but never saw anything to confirm it even though they're not exactly small and timid. It's always third hand info, just a nice fantasy with no substance

[bishop]

So-- if you do see one up close do you say so or keep quiet because the "herd" thinks to ridicule as in playground politics???Because im not embarrassed in the slightest to say what i saw 20 years back.Naaa i didnt think to take a photo because--wait a minute,thats right,i was out shooting geese under the moon.But two days previous,on a local farm i shot ,the farmer also saw a large cat cross the road close to his home and reported it.sheep found skinned up over their heads etc.And i promise you this.he stated jet black as colour,i was 40 yards from a honey coloured big cat 2 days before both hammers back on the baikal and ******** myself.I did not think to kill it as i felt privelaged to come across the beast.But there you go two different cats within 2 miles.My best friend was with me.We went back to the car,shaken but amazed.Went back an hour later and it was still walking the area.So we came home at 3am.We only heard about the farmers sighting a week later.The cat was taller than a greyhound ,long drooping tail almost to the grass.It was on the golf course green btw right by the sea wall, thick frost and it walkeed so quiet,not a sound.stood watching us and us watching back.Ill never forget it surreal ,but totally true.

Edited April 19, 2017 by bishop

[panoma1]

About six years ago at approx 2.30am driving through Shropshire on my way to pick up a mate en route to West Wales for morning flight, I had just driven down a hill with Forestry Commission woodland to the left and open fields to the right, as the car levelled and then started to climb up the hill the headlights illuminated more of the road in front of me......there in the road about 30 yards in front was a huge black panther sized cat, it stopped momentarily then with one bound it disappeared into a gap in the hedge to the left........100% positive sighting..........100%?they were/are out there!

[Hendrix's rifle]

Seen one in the peak district a few times, saw one eating a deer, saw one mooching around the forest and seen one running away up a bridlepath before it jumped the deer fencing. A few other people I know have including a local farmer, saw one the top of a hill next to his house. He stayed in the cow shed with his cows that night and he's quite happy to admit it.... they are out there, simple as that. There is proof a lot got released when the licensing came in and if I get time today il find some now this black cat in particular is a big beasty. It's paws are MASSIVE. Think I have a pick of it's print somewhere in try and find it. And for people who say 'why didn't you take a photo'. The reason Is, if you see one minding it's own business you can only admire it, you don't see them all that often at all. I just sat and watched it. So did my Mrs when she saw it with me and a couple of other people. I'm up in said forest every night with my dogs and know it like the back of my hand, I know what I saw.... anyone who doesn't want to believe me that's your choice but if your lucky enough to see one at some point you may wish to start a thread

[bishop]

I'll be honest,even 20 years later im a bit nervous lying on top of the sea wall in the wee small hours on my own.I know its 2 decades later but there were at least 2 in the area back them.I dun take rocket science ,if they were genetically compatible,that the assumption could be made they could have bred.We have talked about that night since then of course and if i were to question whether it should have got both barrels of BB i still say no.I felt it was no imminent threat to us at the time.But again i freely admit we stayed out in the open all the way back to the car avoiding gullies and bushes!!!

 

 

http://scotcats.online.fr/abc/sightings/1998/beastofnefife11.html

 

 

 

This was on the farm.I was down on the edges of the Eden just a few miles away when we saw our cat

.

Edited April 19, 2017 by bishop

[Benthejockey]

I'm a believer myself. Last year I was out shooting rabbits with Mrs BTJ and we heard growling coming from up a tree. It was a big old oak full in leaf and there was no way anything small and fluffy like a fox could get up there and the growl was like nothing you'd ever hear unless you were at the zoo.

Now lack of dead bodies maybe an issue but remember a few months ago when that Lynx escaped from a zoo? They had a vague idea of the area where he might have gone to but they really struggled to find him and it took them a good few weeks to recapture him. If it was that much of a struggle for pros to track and find a lynx that is used to people and will associate people and being fed then it's going to be extremely hard to find a big cat that really doesn't want to be found. Shropshire is a bit of a hotspot for big cat sightings.

[old man]

I have a friend a forestry worker who definitely saw one locally close up a few years ago, I believe him.

 

As for evidence, they are not likely to advertise being ambush hunters.

 

As for AOLQ, sure that does not cover it.

 

If you do chance it, make sure its dead with first shot or you are likely to be in a world of pain, infection or dead.

According to 2 people I know who have culled problem Leopards you might be lucky enough to hear it's first cough.

 

Any specialist hunters here?

[inthedark]

That's more like it, three positive first hand sightings will do for me

[Red-dot]

Three years ago i got a call from a farmer who was losing lambs at an average of two a night and i watched the culprit 150y away for about 45 minutes and it was a labrador size cat with the reddest eyes i have ever seen under the lamp. It was seen in daylight a few days later.

Flanders Moss, Stirling.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Why didn't you shoot it?