That's changed:
...the head of a Government agency responsible for investigating such incidents has declared that he believes these mysterious creatures do indeed exist.Oh, well, that's it then. If the government is making it official, then it's settled.
British big cats are a myth after all...
The investigations have yet to find conclusive proof of the presence of the mysterious creatures but, asked about their existence, Charlie Wilson, who coordinates reports for the Government agency, said: "The evidence is there that there are the odd, escaped, released dumped animals occurring in the wild every now and then."Well, indeed. There's plenty of evidence for terrapins, raccoon dogs, coypu, etc. No lions, leopards, tigers, or - as 'identified in one hilarious report, by policemen no less - cheetahs.
One theory is that several large species, such as panthers, leopards and lynx, were deliberately released into the wild by their owners in the 1970s after the introduction of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act, which placed restrictions on the keeping of certain species.Now, it might be the 'Telegraph' subs paraphrasing (and we know how good they are at anything requiring a bit of zoological know-how), but any report that is under the impression that panthers and leopards are different species isn't worth the tea and biscuits the civil servants consumed while compiling it.
And any confused puma pitched out of a Rolls Royce in the middle of Bodmin Moor by its rock star owner in the 1970s would be long, long dead by now...
Just how credible are these sightings, anyway? And how credible are the witnesses quoted in the report? For the sake of the government, one hopes they are a lot more credible that this chap.
Oh:
One big cat, spotted by a roadside between the villages of Mark and Burtle, in Somerset, was said to be as tall as a car./facepalm
While many of the investigations have been "inconclusive", others have been resolved. A supposed big cat seen in Norfolk, for instance, turned out to be a badger./doublefacepalm
Here's a badger.
Here's a black leopard:
You'd think, wouldn't you, that a government official wouldn't be quite so dumb as to claim that he believed anything based on this.
But then, I suppose, once your employment prospects depend on supporting government reports, you tend to be the credulous sort...
8 comments:
I gotta say, I once saw what I assumed to be a black panther in 1992 when I was out hunting rabbits in Aberdeenshire. Middle of summer, 6am in the morning, about the size of a black bin bag, but with a tail, a head and legs, it was fifty yards away.
I'm surprised to see there is an official investigation into every over-sized kitten, turtle or siberian hamster reported considering all UFO reports are now trashed after 30 days being stored in a cupboard or something.
I just want to know what happens if a tiger is seen exiting a flying saucer? Answer me that oh Naturist Agency or whatever you are called ...
Black Leopard like animal sighted August 2000 near Claverdon, South Warwickshire. Closest approach 50 yards. Estimated size; about five and a half feet nose to tip of tail. Long thin tail almost same as body length. Overall colour; black. Eyes yellow with vertical irises. Rounded tops to erect ears.
Sighting occurred around 2:30pm. Conditions bright daylight. Not a mirage, dog, or moggy. Cursing my stupidity for leaving camera at home. At least I'd have proof.
In the 1980s a jungle cat (felis chaus) was knocked down and killed on Hayling Island. It was then stuffed and was on display at Havant museum.
This cat is about one and half times the size of a domestic cat. Not dangerous but you would not want it to scratch or bite you. No one had any idea why it was on the island. There were further 'sightings' but no further evidence.
I think there probably are a few 'big cats' in Britain, but most of the reports are mistaken identity.
The black ones seem the most numerous. I had a report from a US national attached to the military. She came in very worried and said "Do you have cougars or something similar with a long tail in Britain?"
She said it had crossed in front of her car on a not particularly quiet road in the early evening. The road joins the major A-road, where there is a Little Chef. She thought it was coming out of the bin area at the back, which would make sense if the animal was scavenging.
She was adamant that it wasn't just a large domestic cat. I've no reason to think she was either imagining it or saying it for effect.
"I gotta say, I once saw what I assumed to be a black panther.."
The mind's eye can play very odd tricks on people. The surprise of seeing what's assumed to be an 'alien' creature can lead people to exaggerate size, movement, etc.
And then there's the people who believe that all those ancient reports of 'Black Shuck' following travellers are linked to this!
It's a fascinating thought.
"I just want to know what happens if a tiger is seen exiting a flying saucer?"
Headpop time! ;)
"Cursing my stupidity for leaving camera at home. At least I'd have proof."
With today's rise in mobile phones with camera option, that might soon change. Though the picture quality with faraway objects isn't the best.
"In the 1980s a jungle cat (felis chaus) was knocked down and killed on Hayling Island."
Oh, indeed. And the Cannich Puma, and other assorted escapees from the smaller wild cat varieties that survive for months.
There's no doubt our climate would be no bar to survival, at least.
"She thought it was coming out of the bin area at the back, which would make sense if the animal was scavenging. "
Hard to believe the poor beast would find anything edible at a Little Chef!
A panther can also refer to a jaguar or a mountain line (puma) in the US.
lion...arrgh
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