'Big cats are out there', say two Gloucestershire trackers

By Chris SandysBBC News

"I've been ridiculed, called deluded, told to get a life and all sorts of things," says 65-year-old semi-retired wildlife enthusiast Frank Tunbridge.

He is passionate about a species of which its mere existence is hotly debated: Wild big cats in the UK.

"I know they are out there," said Mr Tunbridge, who has spent nearly 25 years investigating Gloucestershire's reported big cats.

He said that on average he received two sightings a week from across the county.

His passion is equalled by that of Rick Minter, 50, who has written a book about big cats in the wilds of Britain.

'Own little world'

"The main candidates for the larger types of feral big cats being reported in Britain are puma-type cats and panthers," he said.

"A puma is a sandy-grey coloured cat, also known as cougar and mountain lion. A black panther is biologically a leopard or a jaguar in its black form."

Mr Minter admitted some people just found the idea of big cats roaming wild in the English countryside too incredible to believe.

"You do feel largely like you are beavering away in your own little world," he said.

"You're suddenly engulfed with emails and reporters and programmes wanting to know about the latest deer carcass or your view on 'X' in relation to big cats.""Then, suddenly January 2012 comes along and half the nation's media are tracking your every step.

The incident he refers to came about when the National Trust announced that it had called for DNA tests to be carried out on a deer carcass found on its land near Stroud, Gloucestershire.

A trust spokesman had initially said the deer's injuries - and way the carcass had been eaten by its killer - were thought to be "highly indicative of big cat activity".

But three weeks later the results are back and they are negative to the idea of a big cat predator. Fox and deer DNA are the only traces found on the swabs taken.

But Mr Tunbridge said he still believed the big cats were out there - and said he had his own close encounter to prove it.

Read on:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-16760599

'Big cat' tests on second Gloucestershire deer carcass

A second roe deer carcass found in Gloucestershire is being DNA tested by scientists for "big cat activity".

The carcass was discovered "in the same region" as another was found last week. University of Warwick scientists have been commissioned to run tests on both.

A university spokesman said having two carcasses "doubles our opportunity for getting a conclusive result".

The National Trust contacted the scientists after the first carcass was found on land it owns near Stroud.

'Traces of cat'

A spokesman for the University of Warwick said he could not say where the second carcass was found "other than it was in the same region" or who had commissioned them to run tests on it.

A National Trust spokesman earlier said that the injuries and way the first carcass had been consumed were "thought to be highly indicative of big cat activity".

Dr Robin Allaby, from the university's School of Life Sciences, said: "If there are traces of cat there we stand a reasonable chance of finding it."

He added that they were looking for "putative cat DNA sequences" and once they had those they would know what species the predator could be.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-16611348

Big cat may prowl Gloucestershire wood, says National Trust

A big cat – or cats – could be prowling around a beautiful wooded valley in Gloucestershire run by the National Trust, the charity has revealed.

Experts are carrying out DNA tests on the remains of a roe deer found at the trust's Woodchester Park, near Stroud.

A walker came upon the carcass and thought injuries to the deer's neck and the way the body had been consumed suggested it had been killed by a big predator.

There have long been whispers of big cats at large in Gloucestershire, but the fact the National Trust is taking this discovery seriously adds to the credibility of the stories.

David Armstrong, the National Trust head ranger for the Gloucestershire countryside, said: "The deer was found close to Woodchester Park in an area where there is nice beech woodland sloping down to pastures below.

"With only one footpath, although it is popular with dog walkers, there is plenty of space for wildlife to live relatively undisturbed. There are 120 hectares of woodland nearby at Woodchester and both areas provide a good habitat for large numbers of deer, both roe and muntjac.

"There are some very occasional sightings of big cats in the Cotswolds but they have wide territories, so are rarely present in one particular spot for long. We'd be interested to hear of any more sightings at Woodchester."

Robin Allaby, associate professor at the school of life sciences at the University of Warwick, has visited the kill site to examine the evidence and take DNA samples from the wounds of the deer. The results of his tests are expected at the end of January.

Rick Minter, author of a book on the mystery of the UK's big cats, called Big Cats: Facing Britain's Wild Predators, said: "It is very helpful to have this forensic study of the deer carcass. The consistent feedback I receive from people about possible big cats is that the animals should be studied, so we can learn about the subject.

"Studying likely evidence such as this will help us become more informed. Local people who watched the carcass being examined appreciated that this was being studied in a responsible manner and that they are to be kept closely informed about the matter through their local newsletter and a forthcoming meeting.

"Although people occasionally report a possible big cat from a distance, close-up encounters with such cats are rare. Their hearing and movement are exceptional, which helps them avoid close contact with people. In the event of a close-up encounter you should stay calm and face towards the animal as you back off, but not threaten or aggravate it. The chances are it will have backed off very quickly first."

The trust says the main candidates for the larger types of big cats being reported in Britain are puma-type cats and panthers.

Woodchester Park is a tranquil wooded valley containing remains of an 18th- and 19th-century landscape park with a chain of five lakes.

Any sightings or possible evidence on National Trust land can be reported by email to nature@nationaltrust.org.uk.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/11/big-cat-gloucestershire-wood-national-trust

Rare oil beetles found at Gloucestershire nature reserve

The discovery of a number of rare beetles at a Gloucestershire nature reserve is being celebrated by experts.

Eleven rugged oil beetles, which are believed to be in serious decline, were counted at the Elliott nature reserve on Swift's Hill near Stroud.

The Stroud valleys have been a stronghold for the beetle, as have reserves in Somerset and Wiltshire.

A Buglife spokesman said the beetles were usually found in low numbers, so to find 11 in one go was "impressive".

'Good sign'

The discovery was made in December by a Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust (GWT) ecologist, a month after a single beetle was found by a colleague at the Strawberry Banks nature reserve which is also near Stroud.

Kathy Meakin, from the GWT, said oil beetles were parasites of solitary mining bees and added that this particular species was "fascinating".

"It's a very good sign we are getting our habitat management right if we can find rare, specialised parasites," she said.

The rugged oil beetle - meloe rugosus - is one of four types of oil beetle believed to have suffered drastic decline in the UK, with another four oil beetle species now thought to be extinct.

Andrew Whitehouse, from the Buglife conservation charity, said the Stroud valleys were a "national stronghold" for the species.

"Somerset and Wiltshire are also 'hotspots' - we have historical records for a good number of sites," he said.

But he said they had fewer records in the past 10 years so wanted people to let us know if they see any of these brilliant beetles.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-16473598

Police helicopter hunts for lion

Police helicopter hunts for lion

Bristol police were called out to hunt for a lion after two reported sightings of a big cat in South Gloucestershire.

The helicopter was launched on Tuesday evening in an attempt to spot the lion which had been seen by two members of an NHS Direct centre at Bradley Stoke.
Eye witnesses described the cat as having: "Large paws, a long tail and a loping walk".
Bristol Zoo said it had no involvement in the search and all its lions were in an enclosure in its Clifton base.

BBC weatherman Ian Fergusson, who lives locally, said: "The police helicopter flew over Bradley Stoke between 7.30 and 8 o'clock. It hovered over the Almondsbury Interchange.

"We assumed there had been an accident on the motorway," he said.

"There was no sign of any other police activity."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/8061265.stm