Phantom menace

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

Black panthers are a type of leopard found in the tropical forests of Africa and Asia. But analysis of tooth marks on a dead sheep in Gloucestershire, and lab tests of black hair caught on barbed wire nearby, have confirmed the unthinkable: the UK has its own big cats.

For decades, "phantom cat" sightings have led some to believe England has a wild breeding population. The most notorious ABC (alien big cat) is the Beast of Bodmin, thought to roam the CornishFrom Cornwall, a county in southwest England. moorlands. An official investigation found no evidence it exists - and experts say ABCs are usually a case of misidentification or exaggeration.

But not always. A puma was captured in 1980 after years of sightings in the Scottish highlands. She lived the rest of her life in a zoo. Keepers named her Felicity and discovered she liked to be tickled. Like other cases in the UK, she showed signs of being reared in captivity.

For centuries, lions and leopards have been symbols of power and wealth. Richard I introduced the three lions to the royal coat of arms and Edward I built the Lion Tower to house the nation's most impressive menagerie of wild animals. VictorianThe era when Queen Victoria was on the British throne, from 1837 to 1901.  shoppers at HarrodsA large, expensive department store in London. department store could buy big cats, as well as alligators and elephants.

The 1976 Dangerous Animals Act made it harder to own exotic pets and many private collections were sold or released into the wild. Since then, farmers have complained of mysterious attacks on livestock. On one occasion in 1988, the government sent in the military to kill the "Beast of Exmoor". No cat was found.

Although there are only a few unconfirmed cases of attacks on people, these elusive creatures should be considered armed and dangerous. All 36 species of cat are carnivores. And in their natural habitat, jaguars and leopards are apex predators. A panther has one-inch needle-sharp claws, two-inch canines, runs at 36mph and can jump over six metres.

However, rewilders want to bring one species of cat back to the British Isles: the Eurasian Lynx. This spotted cat with tasselled ears is mentioned in medieval Welsh poetry¹ but disappeared a few centuries ago, along with Britain's other top predator: the wolf.

These "killers", says conservationistSomeone who works to protect plant and animal species and their habitats. George Monbiot, are "bringers of life". A native lynx population would control deer numbers, reversing the damage these herbivores cause to woodland ecosystems.² Monbiot insists these "magnificent" creatures reconnect us with nature and our past.

Farmers are less keen, opposing "yet another predator to our flocks", despite evidence that lynx are more likely to predate foxes than sheep.³ Meanwhile, news from Gloucestershire suggests panthers have sneaked in ahead of the lynx and are quietly 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 a primaeval 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. .