Phantom menace

Something strange stalks the hills and hedgerows of England. As sheep graze and deer wander the woods - two golden eyes watch from the dark. A sleek black back, tail twitching. A panther on the hunt.

Black panthers are found in the tropical forests of Africa and Asia. But lab tests of hair found near a dead sheep in Gloucestershire have confirmed that the UK has its own big cats.

For decades, there have been "phantom cat" sightings in the UK. The most notorious is the Beast of Bodmin in CornwallA county in southwest England. . An investigation found no hard evidence - and experts say most reports are a case of misidentification.

But not always. A puma was captured in 1980 after years of sightings in the Scottish highlands. Zoo keepers named her Felicity and discovered she liked to be tickled - evidence she was reared in captivity.

For centuries, big cats were symbols of power and wealth. Richard I introduced three lions to the royal coat of arms and Edward I built the Lion Tower to house his impressive menagerieA collection of animals for display. These have existed since there were people wealthy and powerful enough to collect animals. of wild animals. VictoriansPeople who lived during the reign of Queen Victoria on the British throne, from 1837 to 1901. shopped for lions at HarrodsA large, expensive department store in London..

The 1976 Dangerous Animals Act made it harder to own exotic pets and many were released into the wild. Since then, farmers have complained of mysterious attacks on livestock. On one occasion in 1988, the government sent the military to kill the "Beast of ExmoorAn area of hilly open moorland in west Somerset and north Devon in South West England. ". No cat was found.

There have only been a few unconfirmed attacks on people, but these elusive creatures must be considered armed and dangerous. A panther has one-inch needle-sharp claws, two-inch canines, runs at 36mph and can jump over six metres.

However, rewilders plan to bring one cat back to the UK: the Eurasian Lynx. This spotted cat with tasselled ears is mentioned in medieval Welsh poetry¹ but disappeared a few centuries ago.

These "killers", says conservationist George Monbiot, are "bringers of life". A native lynx population would control deer numbers, reversing the damage they cause to woodland ecosystems.²

Farmers are less keen, opposing "yet another predator to our flocks", despite evidence that lynx hunt foxes more than sheep.³ Meanwhile, the latest news suggests panthers have sneaked in ahead of the lynx and are making themselves at home.

Yes: Britain has become tame and dull. Deer strip the forests and sheep turn meadows into barren moorland. Bring back these magnificent beasts to instil some wonder again into the natural world.

No: Britain is not a jungle or an ancient forest. The biggest threats to a picnic are ants, wasps and bad weather. No one wants to also be on the lookout for a hungry feline on the prowl.

Or... Lynx are one thing, pumas and panthers are another. Tropical big cats are invasive species that will threaten local wildlife. Lynx, on the other hand, may find a niche and encourage biodiversityBiodiversity is all the different kinds of life you'll find in one area - the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and even microorganisms like bacteria that make up our natural world. Each of these species and organisms work together in ecosystems, like an intricate web, to maintain balance and support life. .