Notes from discussion at the above British Association of Nature Conservationists (BANC) workshop held at the Oak Hall, Keynes Country Park, Cotswold Water Park, 10 September 2006.
The following discussion points arose amongst the participants following a presentation from Jonathan McGowan on big cats in Dorset, and brief presentations from Chris Moiser (Scientific Adviser to Big Cats in Britain Research Group), Frank Tunbridge (big cat investigator in Glos) and Peter Taylor (ECOS correspondent on big cats).
As a follow up to the event, Jonathan McGowan’s perspective on wildlife effects of big cats in Dorset is published in ECOS 27 (3/4).
Professor Jules Pretty OBE, Dept of Biological Sciences, Essex University, concluded the morning session with some reflections on key issues. These are summarised at the end of the notes below.
European wild cat
Chris Moiser raised the thought of reintroducing the European (also called Scottish) wild cat in Eng and Wales, before we contemplate reintroducing lynx to Britain. If we do this, will it cross with breeds like the Chaussies and create hybrids.
What would happen if there was a formal reintroduction of wild cat in Eng and Wales?
It was suggested that European wild cat may now be overcoming the challenge of hybridisation in Scotland.
Is the cat often labelled as Kellas cat several things, not just one the one type of cat - often described as European wild cat in black form?
Effects of big cats on deer
Deer numbers across Britain are expanding, although there are big regional differences. The numbers are at their highest for 1000 years and Defra is currently consulting on deer management and the possibility of reforming the close season on deer shooting.
Jonathan McGowan believed big cats were effecting deer numbers (sika and roe) in some parts of Dorset, as numbers were declining slightly in areas with no culling. He felt this decline was not just because of poaching.
In Dorset the roe deer population is very healthy – perhaps the sick ones are being taken by big cats.
It was reported that the Kent deer population is increasing rapidly with deer spreading into gardens and roadsides, and in day time. Big cat sightings are increasing too, so there might be a connection.
A forester and hunter suggested that the above issues may be partially valid, but there will be more factors than this which influence deer population changes.
Is there an evidence gap in relationships between big cats and deer?
Deer populations are growing at different rates. Is there a straight relationship of more prey leading to more predation?
It was noted that big cats follow the movement of deer, even into towns such as Gloucester and Bournemouth.
The hideout theory
The hideout theory: could some British big cats be a result of a relict population that never died out?
There is much folklore and historical accounts of people seeing black creatures in Britain, and much legend surrounding the black dog. Many descriptions of the black dog resemble feline forms.
There have been sightings well before the possible releases resulting from the 1976 Dangerous Wild Animals Act. Explanations for these previous sightings include released and escaped puma mascots used by American air force crew, and escapes from travelling Victorian menageries.
It was suggested that a relict population such as European leopard is very unlikely.
Is there evidence from Exmoor of a relict cat population?
Wolves were seen off by humans in Britain, suggesting any big cats would have been.
Was there sufficient forest and deer across Britain for a relict population of big cats?
European wild cat has died out in Britain but is retained in Scotland, although occasional sightings of wild cat do occur in England and Wales.
It was suggested that the degree of game-keeping, hunting and trapping across Britain in the past would have eradicated any existing cat species. But, it was also suggested that some private estates could have provided a refuge for the population being hunted, as happened for roe deer.
Could a small-med black cat of some type have existed in Scotland – why is such a cat depicted on emblems of some clans?
Could lynx have survived for much longer in some remote and extreme places in Britain? Although need to recognise that places seen as remote and extreme were inhabited and were the locations of primary industry in the past.
Viable populations
What are the population estimates and what are viable populations of the main reported cats in Britain of melanistic leopard, puma and Eurasian lynx ?
The late Quentin Rose was a renowned consultant used by police and MOD. In 2000 he estimated a population of 100 big cats across England, Scotland and Wales, and he predicted marked population rises over the coming 20 years. This is endorsed by some big cat researchers and trackers and disputed by others.
Territories of big cats in Britain are believed to vary amongst individual cats from a few square miles, to ranges across several counties. These territories may depend on food availability and on the age and confidence of the individual cat.
Puma can exist even in small parks in USA.
It was noted that reintroductions of lynx with small founder populations have failed across Europe.
How did the releases associated with the 1976 legislation become breeding and possibly viable populations? But do females and males travel far to mate, as they surely would if necessary, and does this mean the current populations are still small?
Is a founder population of big cats, especially lynx, being topped up by more recent releases (there have been some alleged clandestine releases of lynx in recent years) ?
What is the evidence for current numbers? How does vegetation and forest cover and food availability affect numbers? Jonathan McGowan estimates the Dorset populations from analysing the field evidence and from people’s sightings.
Where are sightings of big cats reported and recorded?
There are several big cat groups with web sites where sightings can be registered. The group with the most systematic and collaborative approach is the Big Cats in Britain Research Group, which publishes a compilation of reports and analysis in the annual Big Cats Yearbook.
There are many counties with ‘county recorders’ who take witness statements and plot them to map the trends, and who give advice and feedback to witnesses. Some of these are networked through the Big Cats in Britain Research Group.
Irish military reports of big cats exist.
It is known that some farmers and private estates want the presence of big cats on their land kept quiet (at least two such estates take this approach in Glos).
Several big cats are still kept in private ownership in Britain.
Freedom of Information requests on ownership of big cats and on escapes and incidents have been made by the Big Cats in Britain Research Group, although it is recognised that the responses from different bodies and police is inconsistent.
Why are Government bodies agnostic on big cats?
Why would police (and possibly Defra) do away with the evidence from a road kill, as has been alleged three times, including one road traffic accident in Gloucester in 2004, involving a big black cat, admitted off the record by Glos police.
It was suggested the authorities don’t realise big cat populations are viable in Britain.
It was noted that after the alleged attack of a big cat on a man in his garden in Siddenham, two years ago, many local families kept their children off school for several days. Even though the Siddenham incident is doubted, the case illustrates that people will be afraid of big cats thought to be in their vicinity.
Effects of big cats on game
Some gamekeepers in Dorset say they are unconcerned about big cats.
Perhaps those with an interest in big cats need to develop a dialogue with game keepers, and discover how gamekeepers perceive big cats and their potential prey activity.
Frank Tunbridge stated that in his role in Gloucestershire he often gets several calls a week from people who’ve seen big cats, including from poachers, gamekeepers and from motorists.
What cats are present and how do they behave?
Before any reintroductions in Britain, such as lynx or European wild cat, we should clarify as far as possible what we’ve got already – needs a study as rigorous as possible, perhaps with radio tracking and the like.
It is important to learn what the viable range of a family is – what shelter, water, and prey conditions they need by analysing and studying these factors.
When tracking a big cat it might be worth having two parties of trackers, with the latter well behind, hopefully following a cat, as a big cat might be following the first group, which is characteristic behaviour for some cats (eg jaguar, leopard).
It is assumed that different species of big cat will mostly work around each other rather than get into conflict if their territories overlap.
It is assumed that the different species are not in competition for food.
It is assumed that the different species won’t want to risk a fight with each other.
Do the different species have a pecking order? Do the older and more established and experienced big cats have a territory and behaviour patterns that they won’t adapt in the face of newcomers?
It is difficult to understand the movement and numbers of big cats – different areas will have different carrying capacities.
Remote areas often associated with big cats, such as Bodmin Moor won’t necessarily have a good food supply.
Getting the evidence of a big cat
It was thought that a carcass tied to a tree might provide a promising situation. Other known baits are bob cat gland and essential oils.
It was noted that cats are suspicious of any situation uncommon to them, and this may influence the best way to set out bait.
Could a female cat be used to attract males as a bait?
Big cats’ sense of smell may be not as good as many people realise – perhaps it is still reasonable, but not as acute as that of dogs.
The high levels of people now having cameras on their mobile phones may lead to more opportunistic photographs of big cats (one such occurred in Forest of Dean in March 06).
Even when armed with a camera, getting a photo can be a real challenge – the witness may be shocked or scared, and often the sighting is too sudden.
Public safety
The chances of a big cat attack are remote so the issue needs to be kept in perspective, but the limited risk is present, perhaps from older and injured cats, and from any that show habituation close to residential areas, and perhaps start taking domestic dogs as prey and then get more interested in checking out residential areas.
There is a need to prevent people from having food that would attract a big cat in some situations, especially, for example, dogs off a lead in the midst of a big cat occupied territory. (Dogs off leads can worry wild boar, especially when chasing piglets which then lead the dog to their mother and thus provoke chase and attack by the sow).
Signs alerting people to big cats could deter people from visiting places, and other types of people might be attracted to the area to search out big cats for dubious reasons.
In some situations it might not be clear as to which organisation would have responsibility for displaying a sign alerting people to the possible presence of big cats.
Some of the effects on wildlife
It was felt unlikely that ground nesting birds will be widely predated by big cats.
Increasing numbers of people who work in wildlife conservation are aware of the evidence – they see big cats on nature reserves, woods, commons and elsewhere in the open countryside.
Tourism and visitor income
Lynx has been used to good effect to promote and brand the Harz mountains in Germany.
Big cat safaris have taken place on Exmoor, with signs in busier coastal towns advertising trips to see The ‘Beast of Exmoor’ and ‘Exmoor’s big cats’.
There are T shirts, cups and other souvenirs available on the Beast of Bodmin in Cornwall and a Panther bitter has been produced by Rutland brewery to reflect the panther sightings now associated with Rutland.
It was noted that such 4 –wheel drive safaris may be more difficult now with the new restrictions on using Roads Used as Public Paths (RUPPs).
Tiger viewing trips have a 1 in 5 chance of seeing a tiger yet people are still keen to experience tiger territory and have the chance of a sighting.
It could be possible to encourage big cats to a prominent water source and install a viewing hide?