No we don't , they are in Wales too.
Big Cats?
- Thread starter finnbear270
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levigsp
Well-Known Member
So, felis silvestris grampia or the Scottish Wild cat, is a sub-species of the European Wildcat, it is the only true Wildcat living in the UK and is now only resident in Scotland, it is also the rarest cat in Europe and possibly the World.
If you know other than that, please enlighten us and the Scientific community would be very interested!
The cats seen in various parts of the UK and often called wild cats are simply feral domestic cats.
Have a read;Scottish Wildcat history and evolution of the felids through miacid, proailurus, Martelli's wildcat lunensis to felis silvestris
I'm not far away from where you were, I take my dogs to Macclesfield forest every night and have seen a big black cat a couple of times. A bit bigger than my shepherd, a dam sight longer and had huge paws! Managed to photo a print but nothing to compare it to. I've seen one mid way through eating a red hind. One of the sheep farmers said not too long after that something has had a couple of his sheep. On the other side in wildboarclough a farmer I know said he saw a large black cat stood on the hill over looking his farm. He slept in the cow shed that night with shotgun next to him. I know this isn't the same in colours as what you saw but it just goes too show they are out there!
I don't need to read up on it, I just use my eyes, so do's my mate, Feral versions do not have the club shaped tail, or the full stripe coat.
levigsp
Well-Known Member
Perhaps if you read up about it you would discover that telling feral domestics from true wildcats can be very difficult, that is why DNA is often used.
However you are entitled to your opinions as am I.
John Gryphon
Well-Known Member
I haven't closed my mind altogether but with the proliferation of game cameras all over the world.. there are MILLIONS of them deployed in every bloody nook cranny and patch of bush without any photos of these BC`s (no Yeti`s/ Sasquatches/yowies either) this mind is thinking along the lines of..............................................hhmmm!
RuralLondoner
Well-Known Member
25 years ago in Petworth, West Sussex. I was in the passenger seat of a car driven by my sister. Neither of us had been drinking or anything and in a rural, but quite well populated area, a large cat jumped out in front of us.
It was the height of a large dog but longer and unmistakably feline. We both spotted it immediately and both called it as a large cat.
We were concerned because there were houses around so we called the police to tell them when we got home. They weren't that interested.
I'm totally convinced that they're around and they're nowhere near as far away as we might imagine.
It was the height of a large dog but longer and unmistakably feline. We both spotted it immediately and both called it as a large cat.
We were concerned because there were houses around so we called the police to tell them when we got home. They weren't that interested.
I'm totally convinced that they're around and they're nowhere near as far away as we might imagine.
flytie
Well-Known Member
Agree with this , in the past 5 years I have shot 2 very large ferals from the same area both were huge around 5 feet long with weights of 19lb and 21.5 lb. Both were toms , 1 had both ears missing and a very boxy shaped head ginger in colour , the other was a dun colour again boxy head and built like a tank.
This is as good as the "urban fox release" thread!
How many photos of deer and other shy wildlife do we see regularly on SD? How much trail cam footage? How many members of this site are out and about all hours with a rifle and a 'phone that's capable of taking pictures?
Yet despite all the anecdotes ("my mate's father's cousin had a friend who knew someone who saw.....) still no photos posted by the person who took them of free living big cats in the UK, or foxes shot with flea collars and stitches!
(and no, there are no Scottish wild cats in Wales. There was once a report of a" big cat " seen in Tregaron bog, but after a couple of nights sitting out for it the only thing the lads shot was a crocodile.)
How many photos of deer and other shy wildlife do we see regularly on SD? How much trail cam footage? How many members of this site are out and about all hours with a rifle and a 'phone that's capable of taking pictures?
Yet despite all the anecdotes ("my mate's father's cousin had a friend who knew someone who saw.....) still no photos posted by the person who took them of free living big cats in the UK, or foxes shot with flea collars and stitches!
(and no, there are no Scottish wild cats in Wales. There was once a report of a" big cat " seen in Tregaron bog, but after a couple of nights sitting out for it the only thing the lads shot was a crocodile.)
The Kellas cat carries the DNA of both wildcat and domestic cat most probably the result of wildcat feral cat matings, however many what would appear to be true wildcats also carry domestic cat DNA which muddies the water somewhat.
Having seen a Kellas cat at close quarters I can well understand how someone catching a fleeting glimpse of one , could believe they have seen a big cat, well actually they have but not in the accepted sense.
Big moggies!
I recently saw a big, matted-furred feral/farm cat in a field whilst driving down one of the local lanes. I only paid attention because when I caught the first fleeting glance of it as I drove past the gateway I thought "what the hell was that?!" and reversed back to get the binoculars on it. Could easily have passed for a lynx if I hadn't been able to get the second look.
I do believe some people are seeing true big cats, especially with the historical sightings in the years following the dangerous.wild animals act. But I suspect most reports are hoaxes or cases of mistaken identity. I also find it odd that some people claim to have had multiple sightings in different places and/or of different animals... I imagine if one is already keen to believe in big cats (or ghosts, or the yeti) then one is less likely to look for an alternative explanation of a "sighting".
purdey24
Well-Known Member
Some people seem to have very short memories.
This was covered in a previous thread and I pointed out that back in the early eighties the late Arthur Cadman trapped a lynx near Cannich to the south west of Inverness.
There was no argument about this as the lynx was then taken to the Highland Wildlife Park at Kingussie where it lived out the rest of its days in captivity.
After it died of old age it was set up and I think it can now be seen in Inverness Museum.
I spoke to Arthur about this before he caught it as I was a bit sceptical myself but he said that he had seen the tracks and was confident of catching it and eventually he did!
This was covered in a previous thread and I pointed out that back in the early eighties the late Arthur Cadman trapped a lynx near Cannich to the south west of Inverness.
There was no argument about this as the lynx was then taken to the Highland Wildlife Park at Kingussie where it lived out the rest of its days in captivity.
After it died of old age it was set up and I think it can now be seen in Inverness Museum.
I spoke to Arthur about this before he caught it as I was a bit sceptical myself but he said that he had seen the tracks and was confident of catching it and eventually he did!
Are you sure it was a Lynx? don't remember that but I do remember a Puma being trapped in that area.
levigsp
Well-Known Member
I can totally agree with that.
levigsp
Well-Known Member
Yes it was a Puma called Felicity and deliberately released in 1980? she was then trapped and housed at the highland wildlife park , where she died a few years later, she now resides in inverness.
I think Cadman wrote about it but he did not catch it, a farmer did that.
I think Cadman wrote about it but he did not catch it, a farmer did that.
Erik Hamburger
Well-Known Member
'Big cat' in Gloucestershire ruled out by DNA tests - BBC News
This picture is 'proof' of a a big cat-like animal
Hmm.
http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/proof-big-cats-gloucestershire/story-20344790-detail/story.html
http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/video-captures-footage-big-cat-gloucestershire/story-15156718-detail/story.html#1
The local rag had a field day. All a storm in a teacup.
This picture is 'proof' of a a big cat-like animal
Hmm.http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/proof-big-cats-gloucestershire/story-20344790-detail/story.html
http://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/video-captures-footage-big-cat-gloucestershire/story-15156718-detail/story.html#1
The local rag had a field day. All a storm in a teacup.
EDCM
Well-Known Member
20 years ago yes.
Several sightings by friends in the bodmin/liskeard areaat that time. I have notheard anything mentioned for a long time.
And no cleaned out sheep in the big cat style. The locals were reluctant to speak about sightings because next thing there would be all sorts roaming around the moor armed to the teeth.
Eddie
Several sightings by friends in the bodmin/liskeard areaat that time. I have notheard anything mentioned for a long time.
And no cleaned out sheep in the big cat style. The locals were reluctant to speak about sightings because next thing there would be all sorts roaming around the moor armed to the teeth.
Eddie
purdey24
Well-Known Member
She was called Felicity at the wildlife park but having seen her alive I was fairly sure she was a lynx, might have a photo somewhere.
It was Arthur who organised and set the trap in conjunction with the farmer whose land it was on.
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