BIG CAT'S 'A MYTH' - so say NATURAL ENGLAND

So it's official - 'big cats' in the UK wilds are a myth, or so says NATURAL ENGLAND.
If such a statement is true, then why even release it ? Any organisation called NATURAL ENGLAND is certainly not going to admit that large, exotic cats such as puma an lynx inhabits the woods of Britain. Sadly, this ignorance could backfire if a child is attacked in the future by a large cat which may have been injured after someone has shot it.

Reports of large felids in the UK countryside date back centuries. Despite the ignorant scepticism, evidence is in abundance, from the hundreds of reports each year from eye-witnesses, to evidence such as paw-print casts, and kills on livestock.

There is no mystery as to why they are there, an explosion of animals came about after cubs and adult cats were released in the wilds during the 1960s and '70s, mainly after the introduction of the 1976 Dangerous Wild Animals Act. A majority of the animals seen in UK woodlands are NOT zoo escapees, which only occur on a rare occasion.

So-called authorities need to wake up and officially monitor such animals in the wilds. Although not a threat to humans, these are still wild animals, but they do elude humans with ease and mainly hunt at night. Prey in the UK is perfect for such animals but as long as organisations such as NATURAL ENGLAND continue to dismiss the evidence, it seems that such animals will forever be condemned to the murky world of UFOs and ghosts, when in reality there are viable populations of black leopard, puma, lynx and smaller cats in Britain.

Alleged 'big cat' prints from Alkham Valley

Could lynx be introduced into Kent wilds ?

From Thanet News:

KENT NEWS: Ecologists at one of Britain's largest national parks are considering reintroducing lynx into the Kent countryside.
The big cat could be one of a range of species brought back centuries after they first disappeared, with beaver and the common crane the other popular candidates.
Beaver have already been reintroduced to a reserve near Sandwich, but experts from the Cairngorms National Park believe this can be extended across other parts of the county.
And Eurasian lynx, which became extinct in the UK around 1,000 years ago, could become a more common sight if they are brought over from continental Europe and released back into the wild.
Dr Daniel Hetherington, one of the ecologists behind the report, said lynx could help keep populations of deer down.
Lynx are able to live in quite small and densely populated areas and can control populations of deer,? he said.
Another possible candidate would be beaver. There is already a scheme running in Kent, in Ham Fen, to see the environmental impact they would have on the area.
Beaver can manage wetland reserves and create new habitats for wildlife. They can also reduce flooding by slowing water flows with dams they build.
Birds, including the Eurasian crane, or common crane, have also been outlined as potential species for Kent.
Dr Hetherington said: This draft report is in response to a national park consultation where a question was raised about whether certain species could be reintroduced to Britain.
The report was driven by what economic and ecological benefits could arise through a national initiative like this.
Experts backing the report believe lynx would draw in tourists as well as protect woodland by controlling deer numbers.
Fears of attacks on humans by the big cat were rebuffed by wildlife experts, who claim they are no danger to people.
Peter Smith, chief executive of the Wildwood Trust in Herne Bay, said: There have been no casualties by lynx they're not dangerous.
You wouldn't want to antagonise one, but they don't attack humans.
They would be an excellent addition to Kent. There are deer all over the county and with such high populations they are affecting bio-diversity.
Lynx don't necessarily eat all the deer, but spread them out which allows woodland re-growth.
We need a predator as the number of deer is increasing.
Mr Smith also stressed how beneficial it is to have beavers reintroduced to the county, with a pilot scheme jointly run by Wildwood and the Kent Wildlife Trust already underway near Sandwich, at the Ham Fen Nature Reserve.
The creatures were hunted to extinction for their pelts in the UK in the 16th century.
Mr Smith said: Beavers are so important for the countryside. They create wetlands and habitats for other wildlife.
Wetlands act as a flood defence and can protect homes. They could save us hundreds of millions of pounds in flood defences.
Beavers also help purify the water through managing the wetland, which filters out all the nasty fertilisers and chemicals.
Mr Smith said reintroducing beavers has come up against opposition from farmers who believe the animals could damage their crops, with damning activity potentially flooding other problem areas.

Black leopard sighted near Blue Bell Hill

On 5th March 2010 a black leopard was observed by a couple driving towards Lordswood at 6:30 am. The animal crossed from right to left into undergrowth, towards the direction of Capstone Park. The male witness who was driving was 100% sure the animal was a black leopard as he'd seen a similar animal in 2000 in the same area.

'Beast' of Blue Bell Hill seen again...

During the early hours of February 24th a Medway woman reported the following:

'I was driving tonight around midnight up Pier Road in Gillingham heading towards Twydall when a big cat run across the road just before the round about. It ran up the hill into the marshes. It was definitely black in colour as it was under a street lamp, I cannot be sure exactly how big it was as I was a distance away but it was definitely bigger than a fox or your average cat. It had a long tail with a curve in it and the only other thing I noticed was how broad it was. This animal was very fast and I only see it for a few seconds before it ran off up the hill, I hope this information will be of interest to you.'

This is the third time in a month a big, black cat has been seen around Lower Rainham Road and toward the marshes of Gillingham.

Sussex big cats...

Over the years there have been many reports from all over Sussex of large, exotic cats. Many of the sightings have been featured here. However, a brand new website has been set up which will chronicle a majority of the sightings, dating back centuries to the modern era. These reports come from the vast files of Neil Arnold who, with twenty years of experience is now writing a book on the mystery animals of the county.

For more information log onto to: SUSSEX BIG CAT RESEARCH This website will be the most comprehensive Sussex database on the net...beware the imitations.

The Surrey Puma...

Anything and everything you ever wanted to know about the legend of the Surrey puma will be highlighted on a new website. Surrey Big Cat Research will look into the original sightings which spawned the mystery, and more up to date accounts.

Stay tuned...