Vocalisation tells you a lot.
At a time of cat sightings in Wiltshire in the late 1990's a muntjac deer carcass was found. There were a lot of muntjac in the area and these are sizable meals for any large cat. At the same time time period a loud roar was heard at night and muntjac distress calls were also heard.
I was at the BBC Wildlife Unit a few years ago and one of the producers (there were two) I was talking to asked: "Are there actual leopard reports from the UK?" I showed him some maps and other material and asked why he brought up the subject. His response was obviously given with some consideration as the person he was referring to was "Quite high up in the BBC".
It seems that this BBC executive had been in Africa and visited areas where leopards roamed freely and in the evenings he and his wife and friends often heard but very rarely saw a leopard. Back in the UK, not far from Bristol, the couple had their bedroom windows open as it was quite hot. The executive was thinking about a meeting next day when he heard a familiar roar. His wife said "that was close" and he said "yes". He then put his head to pillow and after a few minutes sat up: "That was a bloody leopard!" he exclaimed. His wife muttered "yes" and he had to wake her properly. The next day he listened to recordings of leopard calls at the BBC -after describing what he had heard. It was confirmed. He had heard a leopard.
It was only when it had dawned on him that he was no longer in Africa that the penny had dropped.
I recall a Canadian zoologist who had just finished a puma survey on Vancouver Island where he had seen paw-prints and heard the occasional call but, as he put it: "They can be watching from a few feet away and you wouldn't know!" This zoologist was driving through the Scottish Highlands one day on personal business. It was clear, sunny and he said there were "lovely blue skies and I had expected mist and rain".
As he drove along at a low speed to take in the view he slowed down more as a puma crossed from one side of the road to the other. He watched and took mental notes that it was a male, very good condition and a brownish colour he had not seen before. As the cat moved on he told me: "I thought the guys at the centre would be jealous that I'd seen this great Tom!"
A mile down the road he braked suddenly. He realised that he was NOT in Canada but Scotland: "They don't have goddam cougars in Scotland!" he had said to himself yet he had seen one some ten feet (3m) away in perfect viewing conditions. The zoologist was very embarrassed but told me: "I have a confession to make. I was sat there watching this cat and even had to move my video camera out of the way at one point. Yes, I had a video camera loaded and in front of me and even in Canada I would have used it but this was not a field study and had I not been so dumb and realised the importance..."
A very reputable senior zoologist travelling in Wales had seen Jungle Cats in a forested area once and so seeing another would not have surprised him. However, in extremely clear -perfect- conditions he stopped as a black cat moved across the road, under a central barrier and away -after briefly stopping to look at him. He got out of the car after it moved off and measured the space below the central barrier, the length of road that the cat's body had covered as it watched him: "It had every diagnostic feature of a puma yet was melanistic (black)".
This zoologist had taken part in many wildlife projects including trapping and collaring puma and had an international reputation -built up over decades and was on many occasions called up because of his experience. A rather minor biologist on hearing this account told me: "He saw a leopard there are no black pumas!" I put this to the zoologist who was rather angry: "Had it been a leopard then I would have driven on and not stopped to make precise measurements!" The biologist maintained his position (he did work for DEFRA) and I gave him the zoologists contact details and suggested he discuss it with him. He backed out and never did because the witness was well above his level and he knew that in challenging him he would be somewhat humiliated.
This is why it is important to identify what you see or hear. Personally, I have no interest in what armchair 'experts' ("X" equals the Unknown and "spurt" in a drip under pressure) say. They are of no importance. The evidence lies with the witnesses and there are a good many -more than people may realise.
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