British Big Cats escapes and captures

Big Cats in Britain Northumbria Big Cat Diaries by Ian Bond




We appeal for any information on the following; some details may be wrong, we need your help - unsigned rude emails will be ignored	Officially... Responding to an adjournment debate initiated by Keith Simpson, MP for Mid-Norfolk, Elliot Morley said the Ministry of Agriculture was aware of 16 big cats having escaped into the wild since 1977. Of those, 14 were recaptured within 24 hours and "the vast majority if not all" of subsequent reports had been due to misidentification. "Even so, it is impossible to say categorically that there are no big cats living in the wild in Britain and, therefore, the ministry will continue to investigate serious claims of their existence - but only where there is a threat to livestock and where there is evidence that can be validated." Read on to discover what we are not being officially told. Did You Release Puma, Panther Or Other Exotic Cats Into The British Countryside? If So We Would Like To Hear From You ~ Click here

1810 - The 'Girt Dog' of Ennerdale

In 1927 farmers around the Inverness area suffered numerous sheep and goat kills, the injuries inflicted on these animals were quite distinct from the usual dog and fox ravages. The culprit they believed was a “large, fierce yellow animal of unknown species”, also described as a “Leopard without spots”. Giant tracks were found around the area of the kills confusing the situation even more.
In desperation farmers decided to set traps in order to save their livestock, and put an end to this mystery beast once and for all. Surprisingly they did not have to wait for long as a very distraught and angry large cat was found one morning in the trap. But the slaughter did not stop, still sheep were being killed and partially devoured, still the, “Leopard without spots” was being reported by shepherds and farmers alike. More traps were set which resulted in two more of these large, fierce animals being caught. The killings finally stopped and local farmers heaved a heavy sigh of relief.
One of the bodies was sent to London Zoo where it is said they identified it as a Lynx, “thick-set, with tufted ears and powerful forelegs and paws, such an animal as could hold at bay a pack of hounds.” However, according to veteran big cat researcher Di Francis, London Zoo has no record of this event in its files today. She adds: “....and one wonders, anyway, just what was sent in for identification. The creature was shot in Inverness-shire and without freezing, the body would be in a rather advanced state of decomposition on arrival. If it was just the skin that was despatched to London, a true identification was highly unlikely."

1938 - An article in the Scottish Field, reported a gamekeepers tale of finding, near Elgin, a feral kitten that could not be domesticated. It revealed unusual behavioral traits, superb hunting skills, and finally returned to the wild. A photograpgh showing the gamekeeper having a tug of war with the cat and a dead rabbit revealed the mystery cat to be a Rabbit Headed Cat, identical in outward appearance to the Dufftown and Kilbride specimens.

1973 Panther and puma released by former lion tamer at Snakes Pass in Derbyshire.
A former lion tamer has admitted he released a panther and a cougar into the countryside near Sheffield in the 1970s. Leslie Maiden, who once owned more than a dozen big cats, said he released the animals off the A57 Snake Pass in Derbyshire. He also said people in Sheffield had released big cats on the moors.
"I released a panther 26 years ago on to the moors on the Pennines at Snake Pass," Mr Maiden, of Cradley Heath, near Dudley, West Midlands, told a BBC regional news programme. "It was miles from anywhere. It was a couple of days after releasing a cougar," he said.
Mr Maiden, 63, known locally as "One-eyed Nick", added: "I’ve always been an animal lover. But people came to me with the animals saying they would have to put them down. I had no option.
1974 Lewis Foley, 61, who kept animals at a menagerie with Mr Maiden, disclosed that a friend of his in Coventry had set a panther loose in Nottinghamshire in 1974. Mr Foley said: "He knew about the new laws and didn’t want it put down." Friends in Sheffield also set big cats loose on the Pennines, he added.

1974 / 1975 - Private Owner Stoke Gabriel 1970's, let loose four Pumas and two leopards in 1974 and 1975, Dartmoor, Bodmin, Yorkshire Moors and Scotland, but there is not a more detailed location for these.

In 1975 a black panther cub was caught on Bank of Medway, East Peckham, Kent. A black panther cub had been stolen the day before from Colchester Zoo, 50 miles away.

4th August 1975 a leopard cub with a blue collar wandered inside a house in Fallowfiled, Manchester.

Septmber 1975 Four lions, frightened by fireworks on 5th November 1975, escaped from a circus cage at Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, with tragic results. Three were recaptured almost immediately but the fourth was at large for over an hour, and during that time it killed a ten-year old boy.

Late 1970s a puma caught near the Civic Centre in Barnstaple, Devon.

1970 - 1980s Rumours (and nothing more than that at present) that 5 pumas were released, including abreeding pair,in the forested mountains between Lampeter and Carmarthen, Wales.

1976 Aberaeron scrap dealer Eifion Jones admits that one of three pumas he owned escaped in 1976, around the time of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act, but claims that it was later shot dead by someone he refused to identify. The second was given to a zoo and the third put down

20th May 1980 A dead lioness found in a lake near a disused railway quarry in St Helens, Lancashire.

29th October 1980 a puma was caught by Ted Noble near Cannich, Inverness-shire. Reports of large cats had been circulating in the area for several months. A baited trap was set on Mr. Nobles Kerrow farm and on October 29th a female puma was caught. The animal had obviously been in captivity and was quite tame. Analysis of its stomach contents revealed however that it had been living in the wild and fending for its self for a period of time. The puma was given the affectionate name of Felicity and lived out its days at the Highland Wildlife Park near Kingussie where it died five years later. Apparently a confession stated that another Puma was released at the same time as Felicity.
But was Felicity really the animal that was intended for capture? Did Mrs Jessie Chisholm know all about Felicity and refer to this puma as "the tame one" - was Mr Noble really after the large black cats so often sighted.

Recent communications suggest that large cats are still being seen at Cannich.

November 1981 a leopard cat was shot at Crewood Hall Farm near Kingsley in Cheshire.

Early 1980s. two Pumas kept by private owners in Brixham, let loose on Dartmoor.

January 1983 Black cat, 42 inches from nose to tail, shot in Kellas, West Moray, Scottish Highlands.

June 1984 A beast similar to the Kellas cat, 43 inches from nose to tail, snared at Revack Lodge near Granton-on-Spey.

1985
It was the summer of 85, Cannich ~ as the couple emerged from woods on their walk they saw what at first they thought was a dead dog 200 yards away. As they got closer they were amazed to see dead Puma. The witness said: "It was unmistakably a Puma, there where 6 people on the walk and we all agreed on what the cat was!!!...The cat was decomposing and was badly damaged in its stomach area.
The owner who admitted to releasing Felicity also said he let free another Puma at the same time, I wonder if the decomposing body found by the couple was actually that second animal (that is if the person who claimed to release the animal was telling the truth).

January 1983 Black cat, 42 inches from nose to tail, shot in Kellas, West Moray, Scottish Highlands.

June 1984 A beast similar to the Kellas cat, 43 inches from nose to tail, snared at Revack Lodge near Granton-on-Spey.

April 1985 Kellas cat shot at at Advie, north of Granton.

October 1985 A fourth Kellas cat shot near Dallas, near Kellas.

Spring 1986 Kellas cat trapped near Dallas and taken to the Highland Wildlife park in Kincraig.

Four further kellas cat specimens were obtained in the late 1980s.

In 1987 a leopard cat was snared and shot near Yaverland Manor, Sandown, Isle of Wight by Stuart Skinner. The animal was photographed then secretely buried.

In February 1988 a 3ft long leopard cat was shot near Jedburgh on thw Mintlaw Estate by Willie Thomas, in the Scottish Borders. It had escaped from a private collection in Cumbria the previous Autumn.

15th April 1988 Leopard cat shot on Dartmoor near Widecombe. The animal was not one year old.

26th July 1988 A female adult Jungle cat was killed on Hayling Island, Hampshire. This cat had been seen in the Havent area for at least a week before before its death, but reports continued afterwards also! The Fortean Times reports that no jungle cats have ever escaped from a British zoo.

3rd February 1989 Emaciated male jungle cat, about five years old found at Richards Castle, Ludlow, Shropshire.

August 1990 Male leopard cat, 3.5ft long discovered dead near a lake in Berwickshire. It had been killed by a blow to the head.

picture removed at the request of Danny Bamping after having first given permission for its use.

In 1991 a Northern Lynx was shot near Beccles, Suffolk, after it killed about 15 sheep in a two week period.
The police and the home office were informed at the time and asked the farmer to destroy the body and the photos. However it was put into a freezer for a few days before being sold on to a local game dealer, who had it stuffed and sold it to a local collector, who now has it in his hall.
It was almost 11 years before the photo and story surfaced via the British Big Cat Society.

In 1994 (12th January) Residents of Belfast were warned to stay indoors on 12th of January whilst soldiers, police, and a helicopter crew searched for an Indian Tigress believed to have escaped from Bellvue Zoo. The 17 year old Tigress was found dead in the moat surrounding her enclosure the following day.

1996 Garda officers searching a semi-detached house in Clondalkin, Co Dublin, discovered a fully-grown female jaguar in the garage. The officers were more than surprised to find the animal and beat a hasty retreat.
An inspector from the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals arrived with a tranquilliser gun. As well as the jaguar, called Princess, he found a serval - an African tiger cat.
A Garda spokesman said: "The lads got quite a fright when they opened the garage up. It will be a question of dealing with the matter under the Wildlife Act.
The owner of the jaguar said he took it out for walks at night and fed it on pigs' heads. Both cats were taken to Dublin Zoo.
Maurice Byrne, the DSPCA inspector, said the jaguar was kept in a wooden crate.
The Garda said the owner, who claimed he was "looking after the serval for a friend", may be charged with not having a licence for the jaguar. The creature's future was looking uncertain last night. The head curator at Dublin Zoo said: "We already have two jaguars."

In 1996 three big cats where released into the Lancashire countryside. We only know them as being two tan coloured-cats and one black one. Any further information on these cats would be appreciated.

Summer 1996 Jungle Cat run over in Warminster, Wiltshire and taken to Paignton Zoo. It was stuffed and was displayed in a museum around the Westbury area, Wiltshire.

Marcus Mathews reports: This was reported in Fortean Times. Terry Hooper, knew who found the cat. I think it was an RSPCA Inspector. I phoned Paignton Zoo several years ago-The duty vet did not remember the incident.
I inquired with the secretary of the Westbury Naturalists Society-he did not know about it. There could be a record with the Wilts Biological Records Centre in Devizes-the Wiltshire Heritage Museum did an exhibition on big-Cats about two years ago which I saw there.
The Westbury Museum was in mothballs but a Heritage Centre has opened there. I don't think they have the cat now though.

Additional: "There is a reference to the Jungle-cat in Roger Evans "Tales of Mystery and Murder"(Ex-Libris Press, 2006) in which it states the cat was found dead at Black Dog Crossroads and is now in Westbury Museum. It also states two Jungle-cats escaped 20 years ago (1976) and were shot. Hope this helps. Marcus

1996 two black panthers released into the Welsh countryside.Any further information on these cats would be appreciated

17th February 1997 A lynx with a collar shot in Fintona, Co Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

The shooting followed days of reports of a 'young lion' in the area. The lynx, which was wearing a collar, was believed to have escaped from a private collection.
The incident has increased demands for legislation in the province, which is not covered by the Dangerous Wild Animals Act of 1976. At present, there is no requirement for a license to keep a wild animal in private premises, and as shown on recent BBC television 'Watchdog' programmes, large cats are still being kept in makeshift cages in back gardens.
The night previous to the killing of the lynx, (which according to some reports was a carcal), another mystery cat was shot a few miles away. This was described as 'a wildcat', and was apparently 'tabby', but twice the size of a domestic cat.' This is particularly interesting because, there are not, officially any wild cats in Ireland.
In Dr. Karl Shuker's book 'Mystery Cats of the World,' and again in the editors forthcoming book, (Jonathan Downes) 'The Smaller Mystery Carnivores of the West Country', evidence by Scharff and others suggesting that not only have wildcats survived in parts of Ireland until recently, if not the present day, but that they appear to be F. lybcia rather than F. silvestris, is discussed. This corpse would, therefore have been a potentially invaluable piece of Cryptozoological evidence. Alison Downes contacted the R.U.C. and was told that the corpses were to be stuffed for the R.U.C. museum. We were promised photographs but at the time of writing, six weeks after the event, it seems unlikely that they will arrive. Alison phoned again a few weeks later, to be told that the corpses were still waiting for autopsy, and that contrary to previous reports they will be probably destroyed. We have made tentative efforts to purchase the wildcat corpse for CFZ, but it seems highly unlikely that we shall succeed.
(CFZ is the Centre For Fortean Zoology run by Jonathan Downes who is the editor of Animals & Men, a publication on Cryptozoology.) Daily Telegraph: 16th February 1996. / Aberdeen Press & Journal 19th February 1996. / Animals & Men Issue 9.

On Friday, 4th May 2001, London Zoo received a call from the Barnet Police based Colindale North London. The call was to ask for assistance in capturing a big cat that was reportedly prowling back gardens in Golders Green.
The last thing Alan and Charlotte Newman were expecting to find was a large exotic cat and half the Borough’s police force cavorting in their back garden. Mr. Newman said: "The thing I was most worried about was getting our Staffordshire bull terrier Samson safely locked away indoors. It was a very beautiful animal, like something from a postcard, but I couldn't believe what I was seeing because it is such an urban environment around here."
A visitor to the neighborhood was the first person to actually see the cat as she was collecting mail from her employer’s house in Horcroft Avenue. Carol Montague at first thought she was looking at a leopard. She described it as “stocky with yellowish brown fur with what looked like little feathers on the top of its ears, very soft looking baby fur on its belly and dark spots on its upper body.” She saw two greeny–grey eyes “calmly observing her from a wall outside the kitchen window which divided the gardens.” She added: “It was only about 4ft from me. It was the size of an alsatian, but I could tell it was young, like a cub.”
So shocked at what she was seeing her first instinct was to barricade the house but instead she telephoned the Newmans who owned the property and they advised her to ring the police, which she duly did. The police then rang the RSPCA who in turn rang London Zoo for some expert assistance in catching this strange exotic beast sat amongst the garden ponds and scraps left out for the sparrows.
Mrs. Montague said: “I don’t think the police believed me at first because they laughed. But I can't tell you what the police officer said when he saw the cat sitting there, because it is unprintable. The police kept telling us not to move or make a fuss but they caused such a stir that it ended up bolting for the bushes.”
PC Darryl Green and Pc Paul Leech were the first to arrive at the scene and at the time quoted in the Guardian newspaper as saying: "We took a call from a lady who thought there was a leopard in her garden, we looked out the kitchen window and saw quite clearly that it wasn't a cat. It was just sitting there on the fence, quite calmly, looking back at us." When RSPCA officer inspector Dermot Murphy arrived he was heard to exclaim, “Lo and behold it is a big cat. It's not often you see something like that in north London."
Zoo staff at first thought this would turn out to be no more than a domestic cat as they raced to the location with a police escort. London Zoo's Head Keeper of Big Cats, Ray Charter said: “We get numerous calls at London Zoo reporting big cat sightings and so far all of them have proved incorrect - it usually turns out to be a large domestic cat, so you can imagine my surprise when I bent down to look under the hedge expecting to see a large ginger Tom, only to be met by a much more exotic face!”

Alan and Charlotte Newman rushed home to find a scene somewhat akin to a Keystone Cops movie. Mr Newman said: “There were about ten police cars outside, including an armed response vehicle and 20 police officers in the house and garden. At First they tried to lure the animal into a crate but that ended in failure, then they laid a big net out on the grass.” The lynx was too quick for them and every time the net was thrown it would simply dodge it. Then a pole with a loop was used but they had no chance of even getting anywhere near the agile hunter. “Representatives from the RSPCA and London Zoo soon joined the fray - without any more success. Four hours later the group was no closer to catching the cat so it was decided that a tranquillizer gun was the only answer.” Concluded Mr. Newman who incidentally was once a session drummer for the Beatles according to reports in newspapers at the time.
After several attempts of attempting to capture the animal in the garden including trying to lure it into the house, Lara, who the Lynx was to be later known as, made a dash for it just as the anesthetic for the gun was being prepared. She sprang up and leapt over a 6ft fence bounded across public tennis courts and headed for the A41 junction that leads to the Watford Junction and Borehamwood. The police, RSPCA and London Zoo officials then gave chase. Irene Harris, the Newman’s next door neighbour watched the chase from her bedroom window, she said: “I expected to see a large, large animal but actually I have seen dogs walking the streets which were bigger. But its back legs were big and it had very pointy ears. At first it was just sitting on the fence, then it jumped down into my neighbours' garden and padded across."
Tony Sainsbury senior veterinary officer for the London Zoological Society, tried to dart Lara who had by now been identified as an Eurasian Lynx. The dart had no effect on the animal and she was just as alert as before and it was at that point it jumped the fence. Mrs. Harris continued: “It cleared the fence and set off across the playing fields and tennis courts behind the gardens. Luckily none of the local schoolchildren was playing there at the time." From the playing fields the animal got on to Farm Avenue and shot across the road just as Mr. Murphy arrived in his van.
In fact Mr. Murphy nearly ran the animal over as it “flashed” in front of him. He could see clearly that it was something out of the ordinary.
Lara was finally cornered near the home of two startled on-lookers who were sat on their balcony. Richard Hoarre and his flat mate Grant Ferguson both from South Africa saw running towards them twenty or so police officers. They at first thought they were chasing a criminal but then saw “this incredible cat on the roof of the garage opposite our window.” When the officers arrived they told the South Africans to stay indoors. The officials eventually caught Lara an hour later when they placed netting across the stair well of the flat. Mr Sainsbury, leaning on an overturned wheelie bin fired a dart at Lara from a blowpipe this time having the desired effect.
Dermot Murphy who joined the chase after his near miss was also quoted in the Guardian and stated: “When I saw it cornered, pacing up and down and growling, that was enough for me. Some animals, even if kept as pets, retain their wild tendencies. There is no doubt that this was a wild and dangerous animal. You could not classify it as anything else."
A spokeswoman for London Zoo said a team "with the skills to deal with the situation went to the scene, darted the animal and took it back to the zoo. We are currently looking after it until we decide what to do next," Lara was given a examination and was found to be a female European lynx of approximately 18 months. Tony Sainsbury added: “The lynx was underweight, but in a fair condition. She is currently recovering in our hospital and we will do a full veterinary examination in the next couple of days. She seems to have a problem with her left hind leg which we will examine under anesthetic."
There was concern during the chase by local residents for their safety but London Zoo curator Nick Lindsey said: “If left alone it is unlikely that the animal would have harmed a person. However, if it felt threatened or cornered it could give a nasty scratch or bite. It was more likely to be frightened than dangerous." The RSPCA launched an investigation in how Lara actually got into the gardens in the first place.

At the time of writing in February 2004 the origin of Lara is still officially unknown. At the time of her capture Nick Lindsay also said: “It is difficult to speculate where the animal came from. In order to own an exotic cat species you are required to have a Dangerous Wild Animal License from your Local Authority."
One popular theory which has not been confirmed is that it belonged to a local resident when it somehow escaped, the owner too frightened to own up at having lost the animal has kept quiet ever since. Other’s feel Lara was a wild British lynx. Danny Bamping said on the UK Big Cat Mailing list: “The first I heard about it was via Mark Fraser and it looks like it could have been born wild to me!” Again to support that theory is that Lara took refuge in the garden because of her injured leg. But in the middle of London! Would not Hampstead have been a more suitable place? RSPCA spokesman Rob Atkinson said the European Lynx is considered and classed as a dangerous animal. “Lynx are often kept in private collections but must be registered and licensed in the interests of human safety. For that reason I wouldn't, and the lynx certainly wouldn't, consider it to be a pet,” he concluded.
Mark Fraser

Are you one of the people involved in the capture of Lara? Do you have more information? Please contact us here, in confidence if you so wish Email

2002 (October) Rastrick, Halifax: Two Eurasian lynx were kept in a Yorkshire shed with just a wooden clothes peg to stop them breaking loose.The unlicensed dangerous wild animals were removed from their frail enclosure in a joint operation between the RSPCA and the police. If they had escaped the lynx could have caused serious injury to anyone who approached the large cats. Sheep and wildlife in the area could have also fallen prey to the predators which are believed to have been imported to the UK illegally.A member of the public alerted the RSPCA to the presence of the lynx and the Society then contacted the police. A joint team, made up of the police and RSPCA inspector Amanda Ashton, raided the farm in October 2000 and discovered the stable door was secured with the peg.Inspector Ashton said: “I could hardly believe my eyes when I looked into the shed and saw these lynx.

2004, 20th April. The body of a large black panther-like animal spotted on the roadside by workers, (Harpswell Hill, Lincolnshire) who at the time could not stop to have a closer look. When they returned later they found that the body had been moved. In an email to Mark Fraser the following was explained: "He told me that the previous day he had set out early from work with a delivery when he saw what at first he thought was "a bloody great black dog laid dead in the road". As he drew nearer he noticed it wasnt a dog at all but a large black cat. He didnt stop but the sighting played on his mind for the rest of the day until he returned to work later that afternoon. Upon returning he saw another of our employees who he is friendly with and said, as you would, "youll never believe what I've just seen". To his astonishment the other lad said "a large black panther laid in the road". Apparently the son of one of our supervisors had too been driving out that way on his way to work. He did stop and got out of his car to cautiously have a look to confirm what he at first did not believe he was seeing. He described it as a large black panther or a puma. Excitedly he turned round and returned back home for his camera. However on his return the beast had vanished. He had rung his dad at our work and reported what he saw. So we have two seperate sightings but nothing on news or in paper. This is not a hoax or a wind up. I am genuinely asking if anyone else has seen or heard anything.

Recent emails may suggest that the animal was a dog, and the owner found - update to follow.

2004, June. A large cat was killed on the Pickering to Whitby road at a bridge near RAF Fylingdales. The animal was said to have been about the length of a sheep and was sandy in colour. A man who said he had been present at the scene at mid-morning yesterday, said police removed the body into a police vehicle.
Police are denying that this incident ever took place and now the witness in question refuses to talk about the matter.

5th October 2004. Reports of a jungle cat shot in Lancashire, this animal turned out to be a Bengal, exotic domestic which had been apparently living wild.