Make Big Cats Official.
THE Government should adopt a clear position about whether big cats exist, an expert has said following a Northamptonshire conference on the subject.
Nigel Spencer, acknowledged as one of the UK's top experts on big cats, attended the inaugural three-day British Big Cats Conference at Marston Trussell.
He told the Chronicle & Echo evidence collected by big cat experts and enthusiasts should prompt the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) to clarify its stance on whether the beasts are fact or fiction.
Mr Spencer, of the Leicester and Rutland Panther Watch, said: "The position of DEFRA has changed ever so slightly recently. They used to say on press releases that big cats did not exist. They now say there is 'no breeding population'. I think they should change that again to make it clear they exist.
"This conference has put pressure the Government to change its stance. It's made them realise that people are watching and won't be satisfied with dismissive responses to sightings."
There are now estimated to be 7,000 sightings of panther-like felines in Britain each year, although 90 per cent are not officially logged. Mr Spencer said he believed the Government was unwilling to admit the existence of big cats because DEFRA would have to take responsibility for their impact.
He said: "It is quite obvious that admitting there are big cats wandering around would cost DEFRA financially in terms of compensating farmers and just simple things like putting up warning signs. They will not admit to it until it becomes a last resort."
Mr Spencer said he rated the first British Big Cats Conference a success and particularly enjoyed his own guided tour of big cat hot spots near the county border, although the group predictably did not catch a prized glimpse of one of the animals.
He said: "Tours like that give people the sense of the area where the cats are seen and can see exactly why it is possible for them to thrive and survive."
Big cats information is available at Mr Spencer's website www.bigcatsinbritain.org
nick.spoors@northantsnews.co.uk
Northampton Chronicle & Echo: 28th March 2006