History Of Big Cats In the UK

Throughout history, the existence of big cats in the UK has generated intrigue and curiosity. During Roman times, lions, tigers, and leopards were imported and displayed in amphitheaters. It remains uncertain whether some of these animals escaped or were intentionally released, which raises the question of whether big cats might have lived in the wild in the UK since then.
 

In the 19th century, traveling circuses brought attention to big cats by featuring exotic animals from around the globe. There have been numerous reports of these animals escaping, with many never being recaptured, which adds to the fascination surrounding their presence in the wild.  

Big cat sightings and stories have been shared and passed down through the centuries, below is an overview of notable big cat encounters reported throughout the years: 

• 1700s: "Beast of Bodmin"   -
• 1900s: "Essex Lion" and sightings of a large black creature in Dartmoor, Devon   
• 1960s: "Surrey Puma" and "Beast of Exmoor"   
• 1970s:"Cumbria Panther" and "Norfolk Puma"   
• 1980s: "Fen Tiger" and "Suffolk Panther"   
• 1990s: "Galloway Puma" and "Highland Tiger"   
• 2000s: "Dartmoor Beast"   
• 2010s: "Gloucestershire Big Cat" and "Surrey Puma"  

These encounters contribute to an ongoing exploration of the existence of big cats in the UK today. This interest presents opportunities for further research and conservation efforts that could enhance our understanding of the UK's big cats. 

 During the 1960s and 1970s, as well as throughout the Victorian era, it became quite fashionable to keep big cats as pets and in private zoos. You could even purchase lions from Harrods during the 1960s and early 1970s. However, this trend led to increasing concerns about safety and animal welfare. To address these issues, the Dangerous Wild Animals Act was enacted in 1976. This legislation required individuals who wished to keep big cats and other specified animals to apply for a license, maintain suitable enclosures, undergo regular inspections, and hold adequate liability insurance.  Despite these regulations, some owners chose to release their big cats into the British countryside. Over the years, others have admitted to doing the same. There may have been releases of big cats both before and after the 1976 legislation. The various dates and sources of these escaped cats could have contributed to the genetic diversity of the emerging population as they began to breed. Big cats are still kept as pets and in private collections across Great Britain.  

 The discovery of a 59-pound dead cat occurred during a search of a gamekeeper suspected of killing birds of prey in 1991. According to the officer involved, "At the beginning of the search in an outhouse, which contained a large chest freezer, I asked him what he had in the freezer. He replied, 'Oh, just some pigeons and a lynx.'"  Upon opening the freezer, the officer found a large lynx lying stretched out on top of a pile of pigeons. The gamekeeper confessed to shooting the lynx after witnessing it chase his gun dog.  The report states that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was notified, and officials believe the cat may have escaped from illegal ownership or a zoo. It is suspected that the lynx was shot in Great Witchingham and has reportedly been sold to a wealthy landowner, who has had the animal stuffed.