The hunt for British Big Cats attracts far more newspaper column-inches than any other cryptozoological subject. There are so many of them now that we feel that they should be archived by us in some way, so we should have a go at publishing a regular round-up of the stories as they come in. Curated by Carl Marshall and Olivia McCarthy
Saturday, 28 March 2015
NEWSLINK-UK -LYNX POSSIBLE SIGHTING-Big cat experts call for introduction of the lynx on Ashdown Forest
THE lynx could soon be a common sight on Ashdown Forest.
Several claimed sightings of large cats have been reported on the beauty spot in recent years, with typical characteristics including a long curved tail, a slender body and the animals being the shape and size of a Labrador dog.
More specifically, people have claimed to have spotted a puma, a mountain lion and a Scottish wildcat, among others.
And now, enthusiasts suggest the elusive lynx could bring "excitement" to country walks and help to control the ever-increasing deer population.
Read more: http://www.eastgrinsteadcourier.co.uk/Big-cat-experts-introduction-lynx-Ashdown-Forest/story-26223729-detail/story.html#ixzz3VgwKX73Y
Follow us: @eg_Courier on Twitter | eastgrinstead on Facebook
Saturday, 21 March 2015
NEWSLINK -BIG CAT SIGHTING UK-Have you seen Farnley Tyas "big cat"?
Two ramblers have reported seeing a “big cat” in woodland at Farnley Tyas, bringing back memories of other mystery creatures spotted in the area.
Brothers Andrew and Stephen Brook were walking a trail near Farnley Bank Farm, close to the Golden Cock pub, on Sunday when they saw the 5ft long animal.
Andrew, 59, who was with his nine-year-old son Marcus, described the animal as “leopard-like” and black in colour mottled with ginger or yellow marks.
It’s not the first time unusual creatures have been reported in the same area.
In 2013 there were reports of a “black fox” in Highburton and Kirkburton.READ MORE-http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/west-yorkshire-news/you-seen-farnley-tyas-big-8877997
Saturday, 14 March 2015
NEWSLINK--Rarest big cat in the world to be part of a new breeding programme at Anna Ryder Richardson's Zoo
They are a species classed by conservationists as critically endangered but it is hoped a pair of Sumatran Tigers – one of the rarest big cat species in the world – will breed in captivity in West Wales.
Manor House Wildlife Park, owned by conservation campaigner and celebrity interior designer Anna Ryder Richardson, will see the male and female arrive this summer to begin a tentative breeding programme.
Fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers remain in wild, as they are often targeted by poachers for their body parts.
'Honour for Wales to be part of tiger conservation'
Now the Zoo, in St Florence near Tenby, which has already part of another endangered species the Southern White Rhino breeding programme – hopes to help generate a viable back-up population to the wild animals.
The Tigers are being introduced from the from London Zoo’s European Endangered Species Programme.
Thursday, 12 March 2015
NEWSLINK: Snow leopards recorded in Tianshan mountains after 10 years absence
The Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have announced that their researchers have captured images of 3 different snow leopards on camera traps in the Tianshan Mountains. The first evidence of them in the region for over 10 years.
The images of three snow leopards were captured by infrared cameras installed in the western and central Tianshan Mountains.
The pictures were taken within a 1,000-km range. Two snow leopards were spotted near a water source and another was seen at an altitude of 1,680 meters.
The area is monitored by a network of 50 camera traps which were installed with the help of the Snow Leopard Network last year.
Wednesday, 11 March 2015
NEWSLINK: Photos offer first-ever evidence of male tigers as family men
March 10, 2015
Read more at
The photos are from a camera trap slideshow and they reveal the “tiger dad” passing through a Russian forest along with an adult female and three cubs. Researchers note this is the first observation this kind of social behavior. The WCS also released a photo composite of a sequence of images showing the whole family as they wandered past the camera trap over the course of two minutes.
Saturday, 7 March 2015
NEWSLINK-BIG CAT SIGHTING -WAKEFIELD -UNTIED KINGDOM-Big cat’ spotted prowling in Wakefield
An animal thought to be a big cat has been spotted prowling the countryside close to Wakefield.
Raven Horsechief, 55, of Freestone Drive, saw the creature on farmland, near to Kirkthorpe, on Sunday.
She said it was much bigger than a domestic pet.
It was the fourth time Ms Horsechief has seen the animal in the past couple of weeks.
She said: “My friend was visiting and she was shocked when she saw it.
“She said it was a big cat. It was the size of a labrador or an alsatian.
“I have seen it a few times at night in the field opposite my house. It is definitely bigger than just a normal cat.”
There have been other unexplained sightings of big cats which date back to 2000, when the “Beast of Ossett” was first spotted.
Three years later, a large panther-like animal was seen stalking the village of Wintersett.
And there were also reports of a puma-like beast roaming between Ossett and Alverthorpe in 2006.
Ms Horsechief has reported the sighting to Big Cats Monitors, a group dedicated to proving the existence of wild big cats in the country.
Anybody with pictures or video footage of big cats spotted in the district can contact the Express on 01924 433013 or via editorial@wakefieldexpress.co.uk.