Notes from Discussion Sessions
The text below indicates statements made by one or a group of people during discussion sessions of the event, (these are not nessessarily the views expressed by BCIB).
Opening discussion session, 8 March
People’s awareness and attitudes
Are people becoming more or less accepting of big predators?
Western society is more ecologically aware now than ever, so does that help awareness of the role of big predators?
Does our risk-averse culture influence our attitude to the possibility of big predators being around?
Effects of big cats
Should greater effort be made to demonstrate the overall positive (or neutral) effects of big cats in Britain?
Reintroduced species can often cause difficulties for people’s activities and for the native ecology. If and when planned reintroductions happen, they need to be planned and implemented well.
The media
The existence of big cats in Britain is becoming much more accepted by the media.
Amateurs meeting scientists
More collaboration is required amongst amateurs with an interest in big cats and formal ecologists who might be interested in the topic.
Debate: How many big cats in Britain?
(‘big cats’ was taken to mean exotic free-living cats of all types)
Participants selected one of the groups below:
- Less than 50 cats (no takers)
- 100-500 cats (15 participants)
- 1000 cats (4 participants)
- 1,500 cats (5 participants)
Points made by each group, in support of its guesstimate, are set out under each group’s heading below.
100-500 cats
- One cat may be responsible for multiple sightings
- Low numbers will mean low breeding levels, and this results in the unusual colour variations
- Low numbers are reflected in the low number of road kills
- Levels of sightings in each area would suggest multiple sightings of the same one or same few numbers of cats
- Many people are becoming more willing to report sightings
- Communication and education about big cats is becoming more open
1000 cats
- They probably started from a fairly low base population
- If the numbers were any higher than 1000, sightings would be greatly increased
- If the numbers were higher than 1000…
- There would be greater interference with livestock and pets
- There would be more sightings in suburban areas
- Government would not be able to ignore the situation
- There would be more road kills
- Fox hunts would see them more often
1,500 cats
- Only one in ten are reported
- The stealthy and concealed nature of these cats is illustrated by the Johannesburg case, where baited cages were left out in the suburbs for one escaped leopard. Six leopards, unknown in the area, were lured to these traps.
- Cubs are sighted.
- Significant sightings of these cats have occurred for 40 years. With average litters and successful reproduction every three years on average, do the maths to work out the current population…
Eng/Wales/Scot?NI/Eire estimates (of all types):
Scotland: 500
Wales: 350-400
NI: 50-100
Eire: 300+
England: 1000 (at a density of c.20 per county)
Hence there could be c.2,500 in UK
This group consider that the candidate species are:
- Leopard cat
- Jungle cat
- Bengal
- Golden cat
- Jaguarundi
- Ocelot
- Margay
- Caracal
- Serval
- Kellas
- Rabbit headed
- Designer cats
- Puma
- Leopard
- Lynx
- Jaguar
-
(plus Wild cat. Not included in consideration on numbers here)
‘How many cats?’
Points made in discussion following each group report:
Same cat(s)?
Some people challenged the view that the same cat (or same few cats) might be responsible for repeat sightings, as sightings are widespread and routine.
Territories
Territories may vary greatly in scale.
Numbers and territories might be quite congested in some areas.
Territories (and range) are not cut and dried.
Reasons for high numbers
High numbers stem from steady releases since Victorian times.
With successful reproduction, numbers can expand at rapid rates.
The smaller cats
It is difficult to know if there are viable breeding numbers of the smaller cats such as jungle cat and leopard cat.
Missing pets
Why do so many pets go missing? Is there much evidence of humans stealing or destroying pets?
Deer kills
There is a huge deer population yet not many reports of deer kills.
Assuming there are c.500 cats…
Is this number a viable population for key species to meet and breed?
Even if there is not much breeding, the numbers could be maintained by continual releases and escapes.
Sightings are not a fair yardstick
Many areas of rural Britain have very few people working in and visiting the landscape, so sightings are not a slid basis on which to guesstimate numbers.
Need for caution
As the scientific community is largely unconvinced, it might be best to be cautious about estimates of numbers.
Need to have an evidence base in what is said about numbers and territories.
Questions and discussion following talk by Jonathan McGowan
Territories
How do you work out the pecking order of the cats in ranges and territories? Eg. How do you tell a dominant male leopard?
There is some speculation and evidence that individual cats take a figure of 8 route for their territory.
Do the cats leave neutral corridors of land to avoid conflict? It was felt this often happens, especially as a cat has a territory (which it marks and defends) and a range beyond this.
Do trackers disturb cats to the extent of shifting their territories? It was felt that human disturbance, along with other factors, will influence location and shape/route of territories. The extent of trackers’ influence within this is difficult to gauge.
Different colours
What is happening when two cats are seen together of different colours? It was felt that some cats may previously have been in captivity together and so tolerate each other and cooperate. Another consideration was whether some melanistic leopards might be evolving brown?
Group Discussion themes, 9 March
Participants split into three groups (A-C) to discuss and present the topics below:
Group A:
What will be the situation with big cats in Britain in 2025?
Key conclusions of group…
Viable populations
Whatever the numbers are now, there will be viable populations in 2025
Public awareness
There will be greater public awareness of big cats in 2025
Government acknowledgement
Defra will have no option but to accept and acknowledge the issue
Public safety
There will have been at least one incident involving a big cat, based on experience elsewhere, such as USA, Africa, India
As a result of an incident, there will be some public and especially media hysteria, given that the subject sells newspapers
Public information
Once the cats’ existence is proven and acknowledged, groups like Big Cats in Britain will need to go on an education offensive to inform people of the benefits of these predators
Polarised views on acceptance
Once existence is proved and widely acknowledged, there will be two camps: people will be either for or against them.
Discussion arising from Group A’s conclusions:
If there was an eradication campaign in the future, would lynx be ‘let off’ given its moral rights as a former native species? Much would depend on the views and influence of key groups from eg. farming and conservation sectors.
Perhaps the smaller cats will not survive in viable numbers into the future, assuming they are breeding now?
Will there just be survival of the ‘stronger’, bigger cats into the future?
Group
B:
How should a £75k grant be spent on researching big cats in Britain?
Main conclusions of group…
Compelling case: DNA, equipment and cameras
If work is backed up with funds, a compelling case for the existence and evidence of the cats needs to be produced. Thus some of the funds should be invested in potential quick wins to get and present conclusive evidence, such as DNA testing of hair samples, key field equipment and remote cameras.
Research and study with field zoologist
Some of the funds should be used to contract one or more field zoologists, so at least one person is readily available to investigate and advise on key evidence.
Publicity: Scientific journals
The evidence and the case for Britain’s big cats needs to be presented with rigour in the scientific and peer-reviewed press.
Application for grants & education
Some of the funds should be used to harness further funds, and using some of the available evidence to help the case. The initial sum should be used to build upon for the future research and education on the issue.
Discussion arising from Group B’s conclusions:
As well as presenting the issues in scientific literature, there is still a need for the Big Cats in Britain Yearbook and similar grey literature.
An initial sum like £75k should be used to good effect and in a way which helps make the case for further funds for future investigation.
Research and investigation should concentrate on hot spots where there are better opportunities for field evidence, and where there are local contacts to help monitor and oversee the situation.
It would be useful to have a presence at events like County Shows, to present main evidence and get feedback and more information from people.
Group
C:
How should field investigation on Britain’s big Cats be done to best effect?
Main conclusions of group…
A guide to the field signs
A tracking manual should be produced, to give guidance and illustrations on pugmarks, droppings, scratch marks and the like. This guide should be well produced and usable in the field.
Contacts with zoos, vets etc
A list of regional mammal experts and contacts at zoos, vets and the like should be drawn up. This would help people call upon professional who are interested in giving advice on potential evidence.
Closer cooperation amongst local researchers
Researchers and investigators in the same region or with similar specific interests could collaborate more to explore key issues.
A CD and/or video of cat kills
With the growing number of carcasses from suspected cat kills, a CD or video could be produced, illustrating the hallmarks of cat kills.
Discussion arising from Group C’s conclusions:
There was agreement on the value of a field guide to Britain’s big cats, to help people be aware of and identify pugmarks and other field signs.
Need to realise that identification of specific individual animals from field signs is rarely possible.
The time implications of this activity were seen as a key issue, especially if this work is unfunded.
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We want to see you there, if you have the slightest interest in the British Big Cats subject, then make the effort to come along. We will again have an exciting line up of speakers and events, in fact 
