Alien Big Cats in the UK; urban myth or reality?

Question

has anybody had experience of Alien Big Cats (ABCs to forteans) in the UK? a lot of people scoff at this but considering there are some people in this world who think they get gang probed by little grey aliens on a regular basis, then believing that a renegade panther is lurking in the British countryside seems perfectly plausible! does anyone have serious first hand experience of ABCs?

Answer 1

Thus Far - - - a Myth but any day now it is likely someone will find a refugee from someone's private stash of 'wild' animals. Note the word 'alien' is used as in 'illegal aliens' not critters from far off planets & galaxies.





http://www.britishbigcats.org/

EXCLUSIVE BBCS REPORT REVEALS STARTLING
NEW EVIDENCE FOR BIG CATS IN BRITAIN.
The latest report from the British Big Cats Society not only reveals startling new evidence for big cats in Britain, but also that the numbers roaming our countryside could be increasing. The report, covering research from April 04 to July 05, is to be published exclusively in the April issue of BBC Wildlife magazine on sale16 March 2006 (£3.25).

The BBCS report reveals that 2,123 sightings of big cats were reported between April 2004 and July 2005. The South West once again proved a hot-spot for sightings, with Devon, Cornwall and Somerset all featuring in the top ten big cat locations. Scotland came in third, seeing almost a 50% drop in sightings reported, and was replaced at the top by Devon. Wales was 4th on the list with 123 reported sightings and incidents. Almost 60% of all the sightings reported were of black cats, and 32% were of brown or sandy coloured ones, which the BBCS believes to be pumas. Another 6% were lynx type cats.

New evidence published includes a skull found by a Devon farmer in July 2005 that has now been identified as that of a puma; three reported attacks on horses; over 35 incidents regarding sheep kills; several confirmed paw prints of which plaster casts were taken; and 17 reports of a big cat with cubs – an increasing trend, which suggests that the animals may be breeding. During the study over half a dozen hair samples, now awaiting analysis, were also collected.

The BBCS has also gathered evidence of at least 23 releases of big cats into the wild since the Dangerous Animals Act was passed in 1976, including a panther, pumas, lynxes and a host of exotics including caracals, ocelots and jungle cats. Many of the original owners are now owning up to their past misdeeds.

Answer 2

LOL, I'm just glad you didn't say ET Big Cats!

I've seen the "footage" and heard the stories and to be honest, there's every possibility that, as someone already said, some person's "stash" of animals from a private zoo could escape to roam the countryside. Myself, I have never seen anything other than wildcats in Scotland, but when on a conservation project working in the wooded areas around Suffolk, a group of us came upon some tracks that at first we thought were very large German Shepherd prints, until one of us pointed out the absence of claw marks. We had a nervous laugh together about the possibility of a large ABC roaming around, but were practically at our transport to leave the area so just left it as the interesting find it was.

All in all, the possibility remains that there is EVERY chance there could be escaped ABC's about. I even remember recently watching something on "Anglia News" about the RSPCA going to this house somewhere were they found this old woman(?)who was keeping a medley of Zoo-intended animals in the rooms of her house!!

People forget, it was only a couple of hundred years ago that we had wild bears, wolves and boar roaming free in the UK!

:)

Answer 3

Officially they are a myth because no proper evidence has been found e.g. scat etc. However there have been a large number of sightings and a lot of big cats were released into the wild so there is no reason why they are not surviving.

I have no first hand experience, however I have spoken to people who have seen sheep carcasses that could only have been killed by a large predator.

Answer 4

i saw something once which i couldn,t explain. im a trucker & yes it was late & maybe i was tired but i was in somerset last year when something that resembled a large puma type animal (& i swear its eyes were a weird green colour) ran out in front of my truck. given that it 44 tonnes of metal it takes a while to stop. i hit whatever it was then looked in the mirror to see it tumbling down the road after me. i stopped eventually while looking in the mirror at this creature, only to see it slowly get up & limp off in2 the wood! given the fact it had just been hit by a truck & lived i carried on. later i had a look at the bumper of my truck & all that was there was a large dent & cracked headlight. this is the 1st time i,ve told anyone

Answer 5

whats up there i exploit to very own 4 JRT and 2 JRT have been perfect buddy with my cat they use to sleep interior the dogs kennell jointly yet practise is a ought to there little dudes that like to be around people. Very head stable yet are a keen breed. basically be careful with a guard JRT as you do no longer now why it replaced into left there interior the 1st place. yet provide it in the past.

Answer 6

I think the most famous of the British Big Cats is the Beast of Bodmin moor in cornwall or that region.

Google it - I also beleive that the BBC has some footage, on it's news site.

Answer 7

Several ABC's have been killed or trapped in this country, but you never seem to hear about those. A good source of information if you are really interested is the Fortean Times:

http://www.forteantimes.com/articles/101_abcfull.shtml

http://www.forteantimes.com/articles/167_bigcats2002.shtml

Answer 8

years ago the aristocrasy (sp??!) kept big cats as pets when there where shipped over here for that reason.

Obviously a fair few would escape and lasted out in the wilds - now th country side is dissapearing they are showing their faces more and more looking for food.

Answer 9

Popular lexicon now calls middle aged women who like to go out with younger men to be cougers or pumas. I suspect there are an increasing number of these and considering immigration, a fair number would be alien cougers!

Answer 10

the Big Cats are Panthers that were brought there by the Romans when they invaded the Britain and they are real, anyway i`ve never been to Britain, therefore i`ve never encountered one.