HUNTING THE BIG
CAT
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| A Big Cat or
just a large dog? |
Inside
Out goes in search of the wild Big Cats which some claim are
on the prowl in the East Midlands. Recently
a panther like creature was spotted at Gunthorpe, in Nottinghamshire.
Over a hundred sightings of Big Cats are reported in the
East Midlands every year. Some have been filmed. But are they escaped
wild animals or large domestic pets?
Several people claim they've seen big cats at Burrough
Hill country park near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire. Inside Out spent
the day on the hunt with the park ranger.
Ranger Tim Maidwell believes that big cats are
stalking these parts.
"Most people who say they've seen something think
it's either a puma or a panther," he says.
How did
they get there?
 |
| Big
Cats were once kept as pets by the rich and famous |
Big cats
were popular fashion accessories in the 1960s and could be purchased in
Harrods.
But in 1976 a change in the law meant that keeping big cats was illegal
without a license.
Licences were expensive and this drove some exotic cat
owners to dump their prized pets in the wild.
Debate rages over whether cats could have survived and bred since 1976
- leading to recent sightings.
There are
credible reports big cats are becoming popular as pets among criminals
- especially those involved in the drugs trade - because of their deterrent
effect on intruders.
The hunt
| BIG CAT FACTS |
|
Big cat sightings were recorded as early as 1860.
There are 38 species of cats in the world.
The tiger is the largest cat and is an endangered
species.
Pumas live for an average of 12-13 years in the
wild.
|
The hunt
for the big cats has been going on for years.
In 1963 the police and army came out in force to hunt the famous Surrey
puma - nothing was found.
Since then there have been sightings from all over the East Midlands -
Leicestershire, Rutland, Peak District and parts of Lincolnshire.
In 2001 a large cat was captured on a home video in Measham.
Then in September last year Darren Smith was walking his dog in Derbyshire
and filmed what he believed to be a big cat and then just one month later
Simon Fens captured a large predator on his home video in Rutland.
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