Lynx Back on the Prowl in
Britain After Nearly 4,000 Years!
The British Big Cat Society believes that the Lynx (Felis lynx) may be in the process of becoming re-established in the British countryside. An increase in Lynx type sightings – combined with a Lynx encounter and stories of them being released back into the wild as recently as February this year, have all added to the Lynx related ‘evidence’ accumulated by the BBCS recently.
Earlier this year Mick Cole from Gravesend in Kent was badly ‘scratched’ after a surprise encounter with a Lynx – in the alleyway behind his house.Says Mick, –
“At approx 14:30hrs on Wednesday January 9th 2002, I had just garaged my car when I saw what I thought to be a large fox, with its' head down, walking down my back alleyway. The weather was dry and sunny and visibility was good.
It is not unusual to see foxes in the alleyway at this time of day, there are a lot of them in the area and they are now very bold, so I was not that surprised to see one now. I like foxes; I think they are beautiful animals, so I went to the end of my driveway for a closer look. When I got there I noticed the "fox" was walking very close to the wall as if it didn't really want to be noticed. There was a black & white rabbit in its mouth, which was still kicking and obviously very much alive. Assuming this to probably be a domestic pet, I wanted to rescue it.
When I was less than an arm's length away, the "fox" looked up and I immediately realised that this was not a fox at all, but in fact a Lynx wild cat, about the size of a Labrador dog, and instantly identifiable by the tufts of black fur on the tips of it's ears. Obviously thinking it was being attacked, the Lynx swiped out with it's right paw and caught the back of my already outstretched right hand with its' claws, leaving three long and very deep wounds.
I leapt backwards, my wounds already bleeding quite badly, and retreated back towards my garage. The Lynx made no attempt whatsoever to follow up its' "attack", confirming my solid belief that it was only defending itself. The Lynx then ran off down the alleyway, with the rabbit still in its' mouth, towards the fields and woodland that is at the end of that alleyway. I must reiterate the Lynx did not show any interest in me at all until I made the first move. I believe it did not want any human confrontation at all. The cat did not attack me. I attacked IT. It is still my firm belief it was only defending itself.”
The BBCS followed up this incident – in detail and has since recorded – 5 other sightings of a Lynx type animal within 20 miles of Mick’s encounter in Kent. It has also followed up another big cat encounter in Scotland – which occurred 2 days after the Kent Incident. See BBCS website for details.
The BBCS has now published a confirmed list of Large Exotic Cats, which have either been captured or killed in Britain since 1981 – when a Puma (named Felicity) was caught alive in Scotland. The list also includes several cats, which have previously escaped media attention – such as a Lynx, which was shot dead after attacking sheep in Suffolk in 1991. A picture of this cat has also been released and can be seen on the BBCS website.
During the last year the BBCS has had over 750 reports of Big Cats in Britain – nearly 500 for 2001 alone. Indeed it has also seen a significant rise in sightings of Lynx type animals over the last 6 months. It now has a network of over 500 members around the UK and hopes to undertake a nationwide ‘trigger camera’ project later on this year.
Danny Bamping – Secretary and Media Spokesman for the BBCS said:
“During the first 5 months of 2002 we have seen an incredible amount of big cat activity – including 2 encounters with people. Mick Cole’s hand injuries speak for themselves – and I would urge the public not too approach Big Cats should they see them in the wild in Britain – and definitely not to try and steal their food.”
“The publishing of this NEW ‘up-to-date’ list of cats from Britain in the last 20 years – certainly helps put into perspective the reality of the exotic cat situation that we currently have in Britain. There is not 1 county that the BBCS have NOT had a confirmed Big Cat Sighting in – the response from the public has been fantastic – and the website has certainly aided a lot of people in coming forward.”
Comments from – Chris Moiser – BBCS Scientific Officer
“These 3 scratches are entirely consistent with a lynx having scratched the subject with one swipe across the back of his right hand.? The size and depth of the scratches are what one would expect to be inflicted by an animal of this size. The fact that there were only 3 scratches is not greatly significant because of the curvature of the back of the hand, and the angle at which the blow will have been made.”
“Lynx did originally occur in Great Britain, but became extinct at some time in the past. If they have returned, albeit illegally, they will make a fascinating re-introduction to the British fauna. With the large numbers of deer and rabbits now present in Britain, there is more than enough food to support a small population of these cats.”
Mark Fraser – who heads the Scottish arm of the BBCS – also said:
“I believe that Lynx are in the Scottish countryside and that they are established and breeding and have been for several decades. I do not want to hazard a guess at the numbers, but suffice to say there are several pockets. Notable hotspots being Fife, Aberdeenshire, around Inverness and borders, to mention a few.”
Danny Bamping – British Big Cat Society
Secretary + Media relations
5 Hillside Ave, Mutley, Plymouth, Devon
PL4 6PR
E-mail: danny@britishbigcats.com
Telephone: 01752 664544
Fax: 664547 Mobile: 07831 658492
Mark Fraser – Scottish Big Cats
Tel – 01292 471045 Mobile – 07940 016972
Chris Mosier
Tel – 01752 605980 Mobile - 07751 363198
E-Mail– mysterycats@ukonline.co.uk
Web–http://www.scottishbigcats.org/
The usual ground colour of the fur is a greyish or brownish-yellow, but can vary to rusty or reddish-brown. Their thick, soft pelt can be variably marked with more or less distinct dark spots, and sometimes-small stripes. There is a distinct ruff of long hairs framing the face. The ears are large and pointed with long, erect tufts of dark hairs, and the backsides are black towards the tip, showing light central spots. The irises are a yellow brown to a light yellowish-green in colour. The legs are long, with the rear limbs longer than the front ones, giving the body a tilted forward appearance. The footpads are broad and well furred, and the tail is very short and black tipped.
The Eurasian lynx is the largest, with males averaging 21 kg, and the females averaging 18 kg. The Iberian lynx is intermediate, with males weighing on average 12 kg and females slightly smaller, and the Canadian cat is the smallest, with males averaging 10 kg and females averaging 8.5 kg. Height at the shoulder is between 65-75 cm.
