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Curious cat: ‘They’ve found sheep up in trees’ in Britain’s ‘black leopard’ mystery

From Daily Maverick · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Unnamed sources Context piece
  • An anonymous Kent resident reportedly said sheep had been found with large-cat kill marks or in trees, but the account remains unverified.
  • British big-cat researcher Rick Minter says reports of sightings, carcasses, DNA results, tooth marks and footage point to large cats living wild in Britain.
  • Minter believes black leopards and mountain lions may be naturalizing in the British countryside, despite the lack of conclusive photographic evidence.

In rural Kent, a report of sheep found in trees has become part of Britain's enduring debate over whether large cats roam the countryside.

"They’ve found them with obvious big-cat kill marks or up in trees," an anonymous local resident reportedly told Daily Maverick through British big-cat researcher Rick Minter. The resident said neighboring farmers had described similar incidents, but also portrayed the subject as a taboo in the local farming community.

They’ve found them with obvious big-cat kill marks or up in trees.

· Anonymous local residentThe reported account from Kent is presented as an unverified example in the debate over large cats in Britain.

The account is unverified. A sheep in a tree is not proof of a leopard. But Minter considers it one story among reports involving sightings, animal carcasses, DNA results, tooth marks, brief footage and close encounters. After 24 years investigating the phenomenon, he says these reports have convinced him that large cats are living wild in Britain.

I have absolutely no debate to settle.

· Rick MinterThe British big-cat researcher expressed certainty after 24 years investigating reported sightings.

Minter, the author of Big Cats: Facing Britain’s Wild Predators and host of a podcast about the subject, believes black leopards and mountain lions may be naturalizing in the British countryside. His conviction partly rests on his own claimed sighting of a black leopard in daylight. He said he watched it in profile for about 40 seconds, before mobile phones commonly had cameras. He initially thought he was looking at a dog.

That mistaken first impression forms part of his answer to a basic challenge: if large predators are present in densely populated Britain, why are there so few clear photographs? Minter says witnesses may not recognize what they are seeing as extraordinary. He says he has spoken with about 1,500 people who claim to have encountered big cats, and that their accounts share details including unusually long tubular tails, rounded ears, thick legs, large feet, prominent shoulder blades, fluid movement and a muscular but sleek body. In about one-third of cases, he says, a dog or horse also reacted to the animal.

Having seen one in daylight in profile for 40 seconds certainly helps!

· Rick MinterMinter described the claimed sighting that underpins his belief that black leopards live in Britain.
About this summary

Originally published by Daily Maverick in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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