Britain's vast countryside has long been the scene of persistent rumors of the presence of big cats, such as cheetahs. Rumors fueled by scattered stories and testimonies, blurred photos, and bodies bearing inexplicable marks.
For decades, these mysterious creatures have captured the collective imagination, but without any scientific evidence to support these observations. Escaped from the zoo, released or even surviving former native species, there is no shortage of hypotheses to explain their possible existence.
Recently, a team of researchers from the University of Warwick, led by Professor Robin Alabi, took a decisive step forward by identifying leopard DNA on a sheep carcass in the Lake District. The discovery shakes understanding of British wildlife and could confirm the presence of these elusive predators in our countryside, raising questions about their environmental impact and the need for new management measures.
A long history of strange sightings
Sightings of big cats in Britain go back decades, especially in Cumbria. In the 1960s, the first accounts of big black cats, often described as “panthers,” began to appear. The fascination with these creatures has grown over the years, with more and more reports. In 2000, gardeners reported seeing a sporting leopard at Orest Head, shortly after reading reports of large black creatures at Winster and Farlton. In 2006, a hiker spotted a leopard in broad daylight at Old Houghton.
The 2000s saw an intensification of sighting reports. In 2015, Nich Boden was attacked in a forest near Tarn Hows Wood, and woke up with deep cuts and claw marks. Then, in 2017, several residents in south Cumbria reported seeing big cats to police, with detailed descriptions including a “black panther” sitting on a wall.
In 2018, a couple were shocked when they saw a large wild cat in the South Walney Nature Reserve, despite local staff insisting it was a feral cat. Video and photographic testimony continues, although it is often unclear or disputed. In 2021, Claire Harvey escaped from a big cat on the Pike of Plesco, adding another amazing tale to this long line of mysterious sightings.
Revealing the scientific discoveries of cheetahs
In October 2023, Cumbria-based big cat lover Sharon Larkin Snowden made an interesting discovery in a remote area of the Lake District. During one of her morning walks, she came across a freshly killed lamb carcass. After careful observation, I noticed evidence that an unusual predator may have been responsible for the animal's death.
Convinced that a big cat might be involved, Larkin Snowden carefully took a sample of the animal. Then I called Rick Minter, host of the “Big Cat Conversations” podcast. He is known for documenting tales of encounters with big cats in the United Kingdom. Minter passed the sample to Professor Robin Alabi at the University of Warwick for further analysis.
Professor Allabi, who specializes in molecular biology, performed the genetic analysis of the sample. The results revealed the presence of DNA belonging to a family Tiger. This suggests that a large cat, possibly a leopard, may have attacked the sheep. This will be the first DNA identification of a big cat on a carcass in the UK. This confirms these rumors. ” This makes me a convert “Al-Alabi said BBC. ” So far I've kept an open mind, but these results are a game-changer “.
Testimonials and feedback
Sharon Larkin Snowden reported an amazing experience when she discovered the sheep's carcass. She explained that when she approached the site, she saw a large black creature running away. ” At first I thought it was a sheepdog She explained. ” But upon closer inspection, I realized it was a large black cat, about the size of a German Shepherd. This visual testimony, combined with the discovery of the mutilated body, reinforced his suspicions that a big cat was in the area.
The discovery of cheetah DNA has reignited interest and debate about the presence of big cats in the UK. Rick Minter had already collected more than 1,000 testimonies of encounters with big cats before this incident. But he is cautiously optimistic. ” This discovery may be the proof we've been waiting for “, he adds. Minter has long maintained that these creatures exist.
But scientific evidence has lacked verification of the many anecdotal accounts. This DNA analysis paves the way for a re-evaluation of British wildlife. The implications of this discovery are broad. Indeed, it is sparking lively debates about the measures needed to understand and manage the presence of these predators in the UK countryside.
Lingering doubts about the Panthers
Despite this evidence, some scientists remain skeptical about the confirmed presence of big cats in Britain. Dr. Egil Drøge, an expert on predator-prey relations at the University of Oxford, expressed major reservations. ” If a big cat really existed, we should have more concrete evidence such as clear photos and more reports of sheep carcasses being attacked. According to him, the absence of this additional visual and physical evidence makes final verification difficult.
He also points out that cheetahs generally leave more visible signs of their activity. Among other things, there should be claw marks, footprints, and a marked increase in incidents of livestock predation. However, this has not been significantly observed in the area.
We may also wonder if the sample is fake. On this point, Professor Al-Halabi seems certain. He explains: ” If it was fake, I would expect there to be enough DNA to be sure of finding it. Some molecules will be very difficult to grow proficiently. I don't think I could do that, let alone a normal person “.
Although he is excited by the results obtained, he also recognizes the need for additional confirmation. ” We need more samples to be final. On the balance of probabilities, I think this is a true premise, but it is too early to publish a scientific article on this basis. This caution was motivated by the fact that the amount of DNA found was small and it was necessary to repeat the analyzes with other samples to eliminate any possibility of contamination or error.
