The British Big Cat Society today released details of Big Cat sightings reported during 2002 - including new evidence of their existence. The staggering figure of 1,082 sightings that occurred last year was collected by the society and its members. A further 679 years were reported from previous years; again Scotland was the hotspot in the UK.
The BBCS also had reports in every county and some of evidence included: 4 New bits of video footage, 3 confirmed attacks on horses, 2 confirmed Cat `Encounters' with humans and a previously unreported `Dog kill' - (not far from the recent one in Wales,) Recently the BBCS contributed to a 10 page article for the Fortean Times magazine - (FEB 2003 FT 167) in it is a list of cats - entitled `Bodies of Evidence'.it lists 1 PUMA, 2 LYNX, 3 JUNGLE CATS, 5 LEOPARD CATS and 1 CARACAL, all of which have been found in the UK since 1980.
Danny Bamping founder and spokesman for the society said:
"With the recent big cat activity in Wales - the BBCS has decided to publish its findings for 2002 slightly earlier than planned. We are glad that the relevant authorities are starting to realise that these big cats are `very real', however we are very disappointed with their current `strategies' which are to hunt down and kill the cat(s) in that area.
The BBCS has 2 main objectives - `To Prove and to Protect' - we believe that it is time to put into place a coherent system to deal with the Big Cat situation throughout the UK. If invited to work with the relevant authorities the BBCS could and would provide a vital `service' to them.
Any action which should be taken should be proactive - rather than reactive - which it clearly is at the moment. Surely these animals deserve to be tracked and studied before considering hunting them down. At the same time, we appreciate that the Police have to be seen to be doing something - and that the situation in that particular area of Wales is rather unique in many ways.
It is not fair to expect our police forces who are at this time
facing a large number of diverse challenges, to have to commit large
amounts of time to dealing with a phenomena with which they have
little or no experience with. We feel strongly that the cats should
be left well alone. The Big Cats in west Wales have been around
there for quite a while - and I'm sure that after a few hours of
them killing (and `half eating') the dog - they were long gone.they
are amazing creatures and can certainly look after themselves."
(End
quote)
The BBCS has since learnt that the Police force in the area were offered the use of a Tranquiliser Gun and the help of an expert - but have declined the offer. The BBCS has now put an emergency action plan into place which can be mobilised `country-wide' in a matter of hours. Working in conjunction with Dartmoor Wildlife Park - (HQ of BBCS) and also suitably experienced BBCS associates.
The BBCS, which was formed nearly 2 years ago, has now grown to nearly 700 members located all around the British Isles. This `unified voice' approach to research and reporting has already dramatically increased the understanding of exotic felines in Britain. It has allowed the public to come forward with their sightings or encounters, knowing that they will be taken seriously and that a UK wide network of people is at the ready to follow them up.
Danny Bamping went on to state:
"2002 was certainly an extraordinary year for the British Big Cats Society - and indeed the cats themselves. Now that we have published the list of `bodies of evidence' of `exotic' cats found in Britain in the last 23 years and the data that has come from last year alone - the sceptics on the big cat issue are now as rare as the cats themselves. The BBCS shall continue to grow and strive to answer the remaining unanswered questions - such as how many are there? - What species are they? Are they breeding? Do they pose a threat to humans and livestock?"
Chris Moiser, zoologist and advisor to the BBCS also stated:
"While re-introduction of Exotic Felines may be a criminal offence, it is not necessarily a bad idea. Most biologists, including at least one professor, believe that our populations of grazing animals do not have enough predators to keep their numbers under control. The re-introduction of the Lynx might, if handled correctly, help to balance this situation. With an increased wariness of, and tightening of controls on firearms and the increasingly unacceptability of hunting with dogs, the return of one of our long- lost predators may give hope to farmers and landowners."
Mark Fraser from the Scottish Big Cats Society also said:
"Over the last two years sightings of big cats in Scotland have rose dramatically, due in part to publicity and the ever enlightening attitudes of the authorities. No longer are you classed as belonging to the lunatic fringe in reporting such matters. Aberdeenshire, Fife, Ayrshire and the Borders remain one of the most likely places to encounter a large cat stalking the Scottish countryside."
Scotland ................. 209
Devon ................. 97
Kent ................. 92
Wales ................. 86
Leicestershire ................. 78
Gloucestershire ................. 67
Norfolk ................. 57
Essex ................. 50
Cornwall ................. 44
Somerset ................. 38
Yorkshire ................. 25
Suffolk ................. 22
Warwickshire ................. 20
Derbyshire ................. 19
Staffordshire ................. 18
Cumbria ................. 16
Lancashire ................. 11
Wiltshire ................. 11
Oxfordshire ................. 10
Surrey ................. 9
Northumberland ................. 9
Sussex ................. 9
Northamptonshire ................. 8
Buckinghamshire ................. 8
Cambridgeshire ................. 7
Shropshire ................. 7
Herefordshire ................. 7
Cheshire ................. 7
Hampshire ................. 6
Dorset ................. 6
Hertfordshire ................. 5
Worcestershire ................. 4
Nottinghamshire ................. 4
Lincolnshire ................. 3
Middlesex ................. 3
Berkshire ................. 3
Middlesex ................. 3
Bedfordshire ................. 2
Isle of Wight ................. 2
Total...............1,082
Indeed the BBCS strongly believe that these cats are seen on a much more regular basis than previously thought. They estimate that for every sighting approximately another 2-3 go unreported - with many being reported to Police forces and the RSPCA. However we do recognised that there probably is a significant amount of sightings which are probably not big cats and we estimate that around 20% of the sightings that get reported can be rationally explain by further investigation. We believe the dramatic increase in sightings and data is due to many reasons - The BBCS existence is one - easing the process of reporting and collecting reports from all around the country - (the website has certainly helped - with over 500 coming from there alone. Other signs are that there are more cats out there than ever before and that police forces and other relevant bodies are taking the issue more seriously.
Exclusive Pictures and Video News Release Available from the BBCS -
These Include - Photo of Dead Lynx from Suffolk (91)
and Photo's Mick Coles hand after Lynx encounter in Kent
Our website (which has now had over 32,000 hits) is:
British Big Cat Society.
Danny Bamping
Founder and Media Spokesman
British Big Cat Society
Telephone: 01752 664544
Fax: 01752 664547
Mobile: 07831 658492
E-mail: danny@britishbigcats.com
Mark Fraser
Scottish Big Cats Society
Tel :( 01482) 863552
Mob: (07944) 7576429
E-mail: mark@scottishbigcats.org
www.scottishbigcats.org
The BBCS would like to thank all its members for their support - and also for helping us collect the sightings and evidence together countrywide for 2002. This includes: Mark Fraser (SBCS) Nigel Spencer (Rutland and Leics Panther watch) Clive Moulding (Beast watch), Trevor Beer MBE, Nigel Brierly, Richard Meredith and also Paul Sieveking from the Fortean Times magazine. We are very grateful to the members of the public who have come forward with their support and encouragement so far.
We would also like to thank all the staff at Dartmoor Wildlife Park - especially Ellis Daw and Robin Goodbeer. They have supported the society since the beginning and have given the society a great place to establish our Head Quarters.