Big cats in England, Australia

[Valiant Champion]

Here is one article about Big Cats in England.

http://cryptoworld.co.uk/5-new-uk-big-cat-sightings/

I keep seeing the articles pop up pretty regular. Is there any truth to it?

I know if it is true they are obviously released pets or escaped zoo animals.

I even read at one time that a hunter killed a leopard in Australia last year but I probably wouldn't be able to find the article.

As far as in Kentucky, USA we have begun to see more cougar sightings in areas they were long thought to not inhabit anymore. But Cougars were once native to Kentucky.

[Bovril]

I'm guessing cryptoworld isn't the best source ever. None the less, large mammals are bound to occasionally escape captivity.

[Phier]

From what I gather, there are definitely a couple big cats loose in England. I saw some pretty convincing video a few years ago. My guesses to someone let loose their exotic pet.

Now in the US on the other hand, it has become apparent in the last few years the mountain lions are returning to some of their former range. One was killed not too far from where I live last year, on someone's front porch, and this is the first time in decades that one is spotted in the area.

[Nikos]

From what I gather, there are definitely a couple big cats loose in England. I saw some pretty convincing video a few years ago. My guesses to someone let loose their exotic pet.

Now in the US on the other hand, it has become apparent in the last few years the mountain lions are returning to some of their former range. One was killed not too far from where I live last year, on someone's front porch, and this is the first time in decades that one is spotted in the area.

And Jaguars are returning to the South west.

[1000 Year Reich]

I live just north of Sydney, Aus and every six months or so someone craving some media attention claims they have seen a 'bigcat', leopard, cougar or whatever prowling around south west Sydney. Nobody has yet to front up with anything even approaching evidence.

[Yorkshireman]

From what I gather, there are definitely a couple big cats loose in England. I saw some pretty convincing video a few years ago. My guesses to someone let loose their exotic pet.

All these sightings are generally collectively known as "the beast of Bodmin Moor".

The Beast of Bodmin, like The Beast of Exmoor, is a phantom wild cat which is purported to range in Cornwall in the United Kingdom. Bodmin Moor became a centre of these sightings with occasional reports of mutilated slain livestock: the alleged panther-like cats of the same region came to be popularly known as the Beast of Bodmin Moor.

In general, scientists reject such claims because of the improbably large numbers necessary to maintain a breeding population[1] and because climate and food supply issues would make such purported creatures' survival in reported habitats unlikely[2].

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beast_of_Bodmin

I should imagine the alleged sightings crop up in the media every couple of years or so, wether there is any truth in them has never been proved really.

A long held hypothesis suggested the possibility that alien big cats at large in the United Kingdom could have been imported as part of private collections or zoos, later escaped or set free. An escaped big cat could not be reported to the authorities due to the illegality of owning and importing the animals.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food decided to conduct an official investigation in 1995. The study's findings decided there was "no verifiable evidence" of exotic felines loose in Britain, and that the mauled farm animals could have been attacked by common indigenous species. The report stated that "the investigation could not prove that a 'big cat' is not present."

However the police have released classified pictures of large cats shot by farmers.

This site "The British big cats society" gives info on some real big cats killed or captured and some of the hoaxes.

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?im...a%3DN%26um%3D1

[Burnum]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Feral domestic Cats can get pretty big.

[Nikos]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Feral domestic Cats can get pretty big.

THAT'S a domestic cat!?

[Phier]

THAT'S a domestic cat!?

Maybe the cat is very close to the camera.

[Burnum]

THAT'S a domestic cat!?

Feral cats are huge problem in rural Australia and I've seen some grow almost as big as that cat. ing terrifying.

Edit:
an example

[Ishoss]

Soon you guys will have sheep-herders maiming their own sheep for insurance-money...

[Valiant Champion]

It probably won't really hit the fan until someone gets mauled by one.

[Dayman]

England has always had legends of big cats or dogs roaming around.

It's probably nonsense.

[chamaeleo]

As far as in Kentucky, USA we have begun to see more cougar sightings in areas they were long thought to not inhabit anymore. But Cougars were once native to Kentucky.

My friend earned her MS tracking bobcats and mountain lions in S California, and continues working for the NPS. She's found dens within 20 ft of trails and estimates that 100+ hikers w dogs pass every day, totally clueless. As for actual spottings, 9/10 bobcat sightings turn out to be housecats while 9/10 cougar sightings are actually bobcats. Between habitat fragmentation and rodenticide ingestion, both species have a pretty grim future in S Ca.

Then there's the old Big Game Ranch in Santa Clarita, where rich hunters of yesteryear would import and release exotics so they could get the Safari experience...it's long since closed, but neighbors have "seen" all kinds of weird animals. I'm guessing that similar operations have existed in other countries.

All in all, folks see what they want to see.