I take it these are the "Big Cat experts" (coppers out "for a jolly" it seems).
I have no problem with lynx as they have been here a very long time. We have the greyer coloured foxes now but there are other medium/small sized New cats that could be called "huge" by a member of the public.
I once stated "People report armadilloes and you find a woodlouse!". People do not know their supposedly "normal" wildlife let alone New wildlife. "It was like a wolf just staring back at me!" The animal was measured by the height of a bush -just over 12" (30cms) tall and...was a fox. "I think its an adder and I'm worried about the pets" so out I go with the extra thick gloves, covered bucket and tongs to be confronted by...a slow worm.
The problem is that this is all social clubbing -I bet those in this photo that can recite 'facts' recite the fake ones perpetuated by previous "Big Cat hunters" The fact that all (?) are police officers is is disturbing...but they get their faces in...the Star. Were they going to call in chopper back up if they saw anything or call in a fire arms unit -they seem to be fond of treating animals as "big game hunts" these days. The Star would love the headline "Brave Cops Gun Down Terror Beast Cat From Hell!"
"We want to warn and protect the public from the dangers" is the usual "local hero" bull. We have had panthers, leopards, puma and other cats in the UK for a "few centuries" now and how many attacks or deaths of people?
Zero.
None.
One woman received a scratch on her hand as she tried to take a dead rabbit (!!) from a lynx in her back garden. That is it.
Every "Big Cat Attack" story since the 1970s has been proven a hoax and worst of all the two best known involved self inflicted wounds.
WHY should I, as the UKs original (how I groaned) "Big Cat Detective" accept this as a "non native cat" sighting?
An "African lynx" -but show a photo of a caracal -which they then call a "big cat" and it is NOT.
Since the Exotic Animals Register (EAR) stopped acting as a UK Police Forces advice service it seems any silly claims are accepted and jumped on.
Rant over.
Huge 'beast' with pointed ears spotted prowling in UK village sparking police search
Derbyshire Police received a report of a dark grey beast with a giant body and pointed ears prowling near the woods in Ticknall, with witnesses claiming it resembled an African Lynx
A big cat, said to look like an African Lynx, has reportedly been spotted prowling near woods in a South Derbyshire village.
Derbyshire Police received a report of the sighting in Ticknall and sent out officers in search of the creature, Staffordshire Live reports.
The caller reported seeing a beast that had a giant body, pointed ears and was dark grey in colour in the centre of the village
The officers, who were less than convinced that the sighting was real, did send out several officers who took part in a 12-hour search for the wild animal but could not find it on Friday, October 29.
A spokesman for the Merica Police Safer Neighbourhood Team, which is an arm of Derbyshire Police, said: "The slinky feline, which was described by the informant as resembling an African lynx was seen near the showground in the heart of the village.
"The cat-like, cunning beast was said to have a giant body, pointed ears and was of a dark grey appearance.
A beast believed to be a big cat was spotted in Staffordshire(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
"Officers were briefed that the cat was apparently extremely large and was last seen in the Ticknall area around 7.30 am hours on Friday morning."
The sent several officers from the Safer Neighbourhood team in Swadlincote were despatched to woods in Ticknall close to the location of the sighting to search for the beast.
A police spokesman said, tongue in cheek: "Armed with binoculars and donned in camouflage as well as suitable-for-the-occasion-headwear, the team attempted to tempt the cat out of its hiding place with tasty treats, combined with repetitive calls such as: “Here, Kitty, Kitty.”
"With frustration, after a 12-hour search in dark, dank woodland the only item that was found that resembled an African Lynx was a bottle of Lynx Africa body spray. The offending deodorant can of litter has now been put behind bars and the search for the big cat will continue over the weekend’s shifts.
Several officers took part in a 12-hour search for the wild animal(Image: Swadlincote SNT)
"A big thank you to the local community who assisted with the search, especially Ranger Karl from Staunton Harold Reservoir who provided much-needed, warming drinks in the torrential monsoon conditions.
"Clearly this creature has nine lives and we missed it by a whisker.
"On a serious note, if anyone observes a big cat near Ticknall please telephone 101 quoting Incident 312 of 29/10/21."
However, it is not the first time a big cat has been reported being seen in the area.
There have been many reported sightings in the past 15 years, with the last coming earlier this year in Willington.
Getting big cat flash back. 
