<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">What's happening? </h2>

A fierce beast walks through England's woods and fields. It has gold eyes and a long black tail. Suddenly, it runs forward and sinks its claws into a sheep.

Scientists say they have found proofSomething that shows something else is true. that big cats such as panthersA black leopard. are living in the UK. They tested some hair found near a dead sheep in England.

Big cats used to live in England a long time ago. But the last ones died out hundreds of years ago after they were hunted by humans and woodland was cut down.

But since then, some people have come forward and told stories of seeing big cats in Britain. Most times, scientists have found no proof.

But not always. In 1980, a pumaA large, brown wild cat that lives in mountains in South America and North America. was found in the countryside in Scotland. She was named Felicity and taken to a zoo. The zoo keepers thought she was once somebody's pet, because she liked to be tickled.

Felicity was probably set free by her owners because a new law, made in 1976, made it harder to own big cats as pets. Some think lots of big cats were set free at the time and have been living in the wild ever since.

Most people do not think that lions or panthers should be living in Britain. But some want to bring back another big cat: the Eurasian lynxA medium-sized wild cat with brown fur and a short tail.. Lynx used to live in the UK. If they were brought back, say some experts, they could control the number of deer and be part of natural woodlands.

But some farmers do not like this idea. They think the lynx would eat their sheep.

<h2 class="wp-block-heading eplus-wrapper">Find out more</h2>

Yes! Britain needs big cats to control the number of deer and make the country wild again.

No! People feel safe in the countryside in England. They might not do if there are predators in the woods.

Proof - Something that shows something else is true.

Panthers - A black leopard.

Puma - A large, brown wild cat that lives in mountains in South America and North America.

Lynx - A medium-sized wild cat with brown fur and a short tail.

Predators - Animals that prey on and eat other animals.