Wild cats - in South Wales?

[theresa dockery]

Originally Posted by kevwills

It angers me that in this modern and more ;enlightened; day and age, there still exists so-called licenses that allow ignorant morons to keep these endangered species for their own gain. 19 snow leopards? 8 clouded leopard?The list gos on.

I agree, I'm saddened by thought of such large cats (which in the wild, would have massive territories/home ranges) being kept in captivity where they cannot express natural behaviours such as hunting.

I am often troubled by the ethics of keeping many animals as pets...unless I am reasonably sure they are sufficiently well-cared for, mentally stimulated & able to express most of their natural instincts/behaviours.

I think that these needs are harder to meet for 'big cats' and therefore feel that they shouldn't be kept as pets in private collections (or arguably, in zoos).

[kevwills]

Sorry if i offend, but if these people dont realise the state of our wildlife situation at the present time, then yes, im sorry but they are ignorant...And morons...For adding more pressure and demands on an ever demanding world...And for a private menagerie in their back garden??

[bigdave60dog]

Originally Posted by mikecat1

hello
just reading your post. we have a farm andlost 3 sheep this week.
what area of wales did see the cats ?? ive been trying to get some help but not sure where to start ??
regards
mike
ps.... all 3 sheep were skined smashed rib cage bones stripped and teeth marks around the kneck 1 of the sheep found up a tree

I have seen a Collie sized, Black cat in the Newquay area.
We had some Big Black Cats when I lived in Warwickshire. they are reported to have put sheep and a turkey up a tree which is characteristic of Leopard -I am told.
I have never knowingly lost a sheep to a big cat but I have found the complete contents of a Ewes rumen etc. in the field and if i left a dead Ewe out over night the bones would be completely stripped of flesh leaving just head, spine and attached legs with the lower part of the legs with the hair still on. Oddly, the carcass seemed to remain in the same position as it was left despite most of it being consumed overnight.
This would happen EVERY time I left a Ewe Carcass out overnight.
I staked the place pout once but whatever it was knew that I was there and left the carcass alone.

[kevwills]

Originally Posted by bigdave60dog

I have seen a Collie sized, Black cat in the Newquay area.
We had some Big Black Cats when I lived in Warwickshire. they are reported to have put sheep and a turkey up a tree which is characteristic of Leopard -I am told.
I have never knowingly lost a sheep to a big cat but I have found the complete contents of a Ewes rumen etc. in the field and if i left a dead Ewe out over night the bones would be completely stripped of flesh leaving just head, spine and attached legs with the lower part of the legs with the hair still on. Oddly, the carcass seemed to remain in the same position as it was left despite most of it being consumed overnight.
This would happen EVERY time I left a Ewe Carcass out overnight.
I staked the place pout once but whatever it was knew that I was there and left the carcass alone.

Fascinating stuff dave. The animal must have been a reasonable size to have consumed a whole sheep in one night. At least by our standards of predator anyway..Im no expert, but would a non indiginous species be more wary in a relatively new, and potentialy hostile environment??? Just trying to maybe clarify why they are so elusive..questions have been asked. Why cant we take photos of these cats in britain, like they do in their native habitats every day???

[gargoyle123]

My brother a few years back saw a black cat about the size of a labrador in the baglan mountain range, above where he lives. He was walking his dog which he was glad was on his lead. He as above was terrified when he saw it and shot down the embankment, but he doesnt think the cat saw him as it was a distance in front of him. He said the way it walked and the tail definetly made it a cat for him and he said he has never seen anything of the sort before on this mountain walk. This could defintely be the same cat as the one sighted in goytre.

[bigdave60dog]

Welcome yo WAB and a belated Merry Christmas.
It looks as if the BBCs "Big Black Cats" are smaller than the Enlish ones.
I saw one not far from Llwyndaffyd in Ceradigion. It was some time ago.
The day of The Good Friday Agreement in Ulster in fact. We sat in caravan. -The only news programme that we could get on the radio was Irish News._ listening to news of the agreement and news of major floods in our the home of South Warwickshire.
This "BBC" was about the size of a large Collie Dog, It was walking between the cows of a milking herd so there was no doubt about size. It was shiny, jet black.
It had a long tail carried in low curve as dose a lion or leopard. It move slowly and unhurriedly in a typical cat like flowing muscular movement with its muscles glistening as it moved. We even got the "bins" to it for a better view.
We found afterward that several other had seen it on separate occasions.
Dave