People gather to hear about big cats in Gloucestershire
BIG cat authority Rick Minter signed copies of his new book on what he believes are the predators in our midst.
Curious big cat fans gathered at Waterstones in Eastgate Street, Gloucester, last week to hear him talk on the subject and watch a demonstration from big cat tracker Frank Tunbridge.
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FASCINATING: Rick Minter talking about a puma's skull to David and Sue Bayley at Waterstones bookshop.
Big Cats: Facing Britain's Wild Predators presents the issues of big cats living wild in Britain and looks at how people respond to them.
Speaking after the event, Mr Tunbridge said he estimates there to be two to three big cats living per 100sq miles in Gloucestershire.
The wildlife enthusiast said: "I have so many sightings per week it is evident that we have got a British big cat that is naturalised and adapted to our prey and habitat. Their main prey is deer and they are keeping the deer populations in check."
He continued: "The population has built up since the Victorian age and 1970s when the dangerous wild animal act was brought in.
"They are, in my opinion, an asset to the British countryside."
11 Comments
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by elLince
Saturday, February 04 2012, 10:22AM
“TerryDong: You say a lot about yourself
Well done Frank Tunbgridge - keep up the good work.”
by Andrew_Powell
Tuesday, January 31 2012, 12:07PM
“i think it's highly unlikely that we have a breeding population of non-indigenous cats.
However, there is a history of creatures that don't belong in the UK being caught or shot so that there are a few about is a distinct probability.
How they get here is anyone's guess but i think it's likely that they are pets that are released when they eat the dog.”
by TerryDong
Tuesday, January 31 2012, 8:34AM
“So the book is full of photos of big cats and of their tracks, DNA evidence and fully proven eye witness reports (but not by attention seeking mentalists) then?”
by elLince
Monday, January 30 2012, 9:42PM
“TerryDong
Maybe you should read the book and you'll find out how wrong you are.”
by sarahmichelle
Monday, January 30 2012, 8:49PM
“whatever happened to that story a few weeks back about DNA being sent away from the deer carcasses and was due back at the end of last week? I'm guessing it didn't prove there were big cats after all?”
by Alchemies
Monday, January 30 2012, 7:05PM
“There are more 'big cat authorities' than big cats.”
by Douglasknows
Monday, January 30 2012, 10:42AM
“Hopefully a large cat or two will make it to the FoDean to keep the wild boar population in check.”
by TerryDong
Monday, January 30 2012, 9:10AM
“A title like 'big cat tracker' kind of implies that good old Frank has actually caught, photographed or even seen one of these big cats he is obsessed with. Yet it seems that he never has....funny that.....
So, from now on I am a Dragon hunter. Of course, I've never seen one, no one has ever photographed one and there is not the tiniest shred of evidence to suggest they even exist, but if it's good enough for Frank then it's good enough for me.”
by Qwerty05
Monday, January 30 2012, 8:14AM
“I cannot believe that people take this myth seriously. A bit of harmless storytelling maybe, but it only makes the good folk of Gloucestershire look complete yokels.”
by dawn957
Monday, January 30 2012, 7:56AM
“oh please..lets get real here.there are more people to be scared of than big cats.i bet there are a few blokes out there that would rather face a big cat than a drunk woman with 2" nails and a stiletto. will we hear about these cats when frank starts his car boot season in march? yes it is the same frank.you know up at widden,long unkempt hair and a wax jacket.”