Just never ever accept anonymous reports.

 

Here is a wake up call to the "British Big Cat" fan clubs.

Someone reports a sighting anonymously on your group and will not tell you their real name (even privately) that report is a hoax. Including a couple hunhdred dots on your map based on "I saw the biggest black cat cross the road in front of me" "It was in a field but defintely a puma or panther" means nothing.

I would ask questions for up to 30 minutes to an hour before even considering a report. 

Back in the late 1990s someone phoned me to report a big black cat sighting. Good phone line and I could hear snickering. He went on to tell me the cat was seen on the route of what they called "The Beast"track (part of some annual cycling event). I had the person'e name ands asked for those of the witnesses who was with him. I got them. I then pointed out that I worked with the police force they had gotten my number from and that if this was a hoax there would be legal ramifications. There was some stuttering before they revealed that they were trying to drum up interest in the race.

Another person reegaled me with their sighting but I was dubious due to certain things they said. I pointed out that I needed their name for the record but that it was kept confidential. They tried all of the excuses so in the end I pointed out that if it was a genuine report I needed their name otherwise it was not even going to make it into my note book. He put the phone down.

Every person who was genuinely reporting a sighting to me was nervous about giving out their names but they did so on the understanding that it would not be made public. The first of those calls was in 1977 and I have never revealed that person's name.

If a person will not tell you privately what their name is then disregard the report. I could now list 25 locations and describe what cat was seen but, of course, the wirnesses would not give me their names.  Prove I am not making it all up.

No name even in confidence then you have no report. You have to base your work/hobby on accurate information and when someone asks whether you have any other information on a sighting and you respond "No. That's all the anonymous person posted" -then you are saying "I am a rank amateur with no idea of what research and investigation is about -but I do have cammo gear!"

Just never ever accept anonymous reports.

As a quick end note: I onbce went out with a group of "British big cat" enthusiasts (I am NOT calling them hunters)into woodland where there was "very credible evidence a big cat had killed deer" (some old bones found). They looked all around including pulling apart bushes and undergrowth but there was one thing I noticed not one of them did.

Look up.