Back to Scottish News

  From African Elephants to Pumas in Fife - Mark got Eco Warrior Bug in Army

Big Cats in Britain

Scottish News - can you add to this story? email here

BCIB NEW blog spot

    
   
   
   
   

From African Elephants to Pumas in Fife - Mark got Eco Warrior Bug in Army

The Sun: 31st July 2007

The Sun - no logo available
   
Cop Mark Maylin swore to protect Scottish wildlife after a life-changing trip to the savannahs of Africa.
The 41-year-old from Dalgety Bay, Fife, spent 15 years in the army.
But it was a trip to Kenya that changed his life forever.
PC Mark said: “What I saw there made me realise how desperate the situation the wildlife situation was here in Scotland.
“Kenyans were putting their lives on the line. Some of them were even being killed to protect animals from poachers
“In 1987 I was on exercise with the Royal Highland Fusiliers. I had a week off so I decided to see a bit of the country. I was astounded by what the Kenyans were doing to save their animals.
“Poaching was still a major problem though and one day we stumbled across an elephant. It had been killed, the horns ripped off and there was blood everywhere.
“That image, and the smell has stayed with me. What the Kenyans were doing inspired me to try and stop our animals being slaughtered.”
Married Mark, who joined the army at 18, has spent the last nine years as a cop in Fife.
He is now one of six wildlife officers for the area. Whose story was revealed in BBC Scotland’s hit series Wildlife Detectives.
The officers are all volunteers and do the job in addition to normal police duties.
Mark, who is based at the Fife Police Headquarters in Glenrothes, said: “It’d be good if you had the funding to do this full time.
“But it’s important to start somewhere within this field because it is a growing problem.” Mark’s main focus is big cats in Fife. Last year there was a staggering 35 reports from the area - despite cynics claiming there is no such thing in Scotland.
However Mark said: “I’ve seen paw prints we reckon were from black leopards. “We use techniques like DNA sampling and have had experts examine what we have found.”
Mark added: “It used to be fashionable for people to keep wildcats as pets. But the Dangerous Wild Animals Act in 187 changed all that.
“People had to get rid of any exotic animals like pumas. Often they have dumped them and they have bred.”
But Mark insists people have nothing to be scared of. He said: “These animals are shy of people and don’t like to be around them.
“They would have to feel threatened and cornered if attacked.
Sarahtolan@the-sun.co.uk

Do you have any information on the above reports. Were you the person involved, or are you aware of any more sightings in this area. We would appreciate any information that you could give us.

Have your say on the forum.