Big Cats all around us?

Big cat sightings have rocketed in recent across the UK in recent years. This may be due to public hysteria or the establishment of a breeding population.

Although not acknowledged as a real problem off the record the general view is that Big Cats could and do exist in the more remote areas of the UK; this includes parts of Gloucestershire.

They seem to be either the offspring of or original Big Cats released following the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 that introduced licensing of "pet" dangerous animals.

Many owners were unable to meet the new legislation and rather than see thier pets destroyed released them into the wild.

Is it not likely that within the Stroud Valleys that some of these "pets" were released and have now taken up residence in Cranham woods?

What should we do?

Find some real evidence.

Pictures.

Confirmed sightings.

Casts of paw prints.

But be careful there may be a real danger out there.

Night orienteering does not sound so attractive now.

In the very first edition of the nature page I reffered to the sighting of a black cat near Overtown farm. I have to be honest; the sighting was several years ago and at some distance. I always believed that it may well have been a black labrador; with an extra long tail and an odd stance.

However, little did I know how things have developed.

During February the front page of the Echo contained a report from Peter Martin of a Deer carcass found in the woods. The carcass seemed to have been subject to a severe attack.

Since then I have heard about missing sheep and an attack on a horse which resulted in it having to be destroyed. My sympathy to the horse's owner. What ever the causes of these attacks; it is now a serious matter that needs resolving.

For more detailed information visit the British Big Cats Society.

Note: some of the pictures of big cat attacks are a bit gruesome.