Press Release

 

In 1977 I began looking into reports of “big cats” on the loose in the UK. After a year or so it was evident that the people I spoke to were not misidentifying regular animals nor were they ling. This led to the creation of the Exotic Animals Register (EAR) that became a national exotic fauna historical research, investigation and advisory group. From 1977 onward I acted as an exotic animal specialist working with UK police forces, specialising in canids and felids.

 

From the very outset of the EAR as well as the Fox Project the help of local people and media from Cumbria, Durham, Wiltshire and most other UK counties including those in Scotland and Wales has been incredible.

 

The work covers feral domestic cats as well as large “exotic species” such as lynx and puma. In particular the work revealed in the 1990s that wild cats (Felis silvestris) had been released in pairs around the UK.

 

The Fox study is currently looking at the size and coat colouration around the country.

 

Back when the project started there were no phone cameras, trail cams and even video cameras were a rarity.  Both projects are currently beginning a new phase and I would very much like to hear from people (although anonymity is guaranteed I cannot accept anonymous submissions due to past hoaxing) who have seen large or unusual cats, photographed or video recorded them. The same applies to unusually coloured foxes.

 

The basic details I need are name and address (confidential) and date and time of the sighting/photograph/video.

 

I can be contacted via email at: earpol@yahoo.co.uk   or by letter at EAR/FP c/o 203 Ashton Drive, Ashton Vale, Bristol BS3 2PY

 

All help and information is welcome –Thank You

 

Terry Hooper-Scharf

Coordinator EAR/Fox and Hybrid Project

Find out more

https://exoticanimalsregister.blogspot.com/2020/11/projects-surveys.html