Never let it be said that the CFZ steers away from confronting controversial issues. There can be few people with a passion for cryptozoology who have not heard of the so-called "Beast of Bodmin" and the "Beast of Exmoor" - those Big-Cats said to be roaming the wilder (and, indeed, at times not so wild) parts of the British Isles by day and night.
For the most part, theories concerning the origins of these mysterious beasts generally tend to focus upon the possibility that today's British big-cats are the descendants of exotic pets released into the wild by their owners in 1976, following the passing of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act - an act that required such owners to have an official (and, it must be stressed, very expensive) license.
Undoubtedly, some such beasts did enter the wilds of Britain in precisely that same fashion. There is, however, a far more intriguing and controversial theory - and it is one that posits that the British Isles is home to an unknown indigenous Big Cat.
Preposterous? CFZ Director Jon Downes certainly used to think so; today, however, his views have changed somewhat. And, if you want to know what led to that change, check out his newly posted blog-entry at the CFZ's official website.
This is a story that has only just begun...
For the most part, theories concerning the origins of these mysterious beasts generally tend to focus upon the possibility that today's British big-cats are the descendants of exotic pets released into the wild by their owners in 1976, following the passing of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act - an act that required such owners to have an official (and, it must be stressed, very expensive) license.
Undoubtedly, some such beasts did enter the wilds of Britain in precisely that same fashion. There is, however, a far more intriguing and controversial theory - and it is one that posits that the British Isles is home to an unknown indigenous Big Cat.
Preposterous? CFZ Director Jon Downes certainly used to think so; today, however, his views have changed somewhat. And, if you want to know what led to that change, check out his newly posted blog-entry at the CFZ's official website.
This is a story that has only just begun...
And if you want to learn the latest news on all things big and cat-like from the UK, check out the CFZ's newly-published Big Cats in Britain Yearbook 2007.
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