Phantom menace

A ferocious beast stalks the quiet English countryside. As sheep graze and deer wander - two golden eyes watch from the dark. A sleek black back, tail twitching. A panther on the hunt.

But lab tests of hair found near a dead sheep in Gloucestershire prove that big cats are living wild in the UK.

There have been many "phantom cat" sightings. The most famous is the Beast of BodminA town in Cornwall, England, near to a famous piece of moorland. . 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 in the Scottish highlands. Zoo keepers named her Felicity and discovered she liked to be tickled - evidence she grew up in captivity.

For centuries, big cats were symbols of wealth. Kings of England put lions on their coat of arms and kept wild beasts at the Tower of LondonA fortress in London, once used as a prison and now part of a museum homing the UK's crown jewels. .

The 1976 Dangerous Animals Act made it harder to own exotic pets. Many were released into the wild. Since then, farmers say mysterious black cats have attacked their livestock.

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

However, rewilders plan to return one killer cat to the UK: the Eurasian Lynx. This tasselled-eared cat is mentioned in medievalRelating to the Middle Ages. poetry¹ but disappeared a few centuries ago.

These "killers", says conservationistSomeone who works to protect plant and animal species and their habitats. George Monbiot, are "bringers of life". A lynx population would control deer numbers and encourage the regrowth of woodland ecosystems.²

Farmers are less keen, opposing "yet another predator to our flocks", despite evidence that lynx are a bigger threat to foxes.³ Meanwhile, the latest news suggests panthers are already making themselves at home.

Yes: Britain has become tame and dull. Deer strip the forests and sheep turn meadows into lifeless 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. .