I need to make it clear that I have NOTHING to do with a group called National Exotics Rescue (former Beastwatch UK).
I do not endorse any rescue other than the two that help the Bristol Fox Lady cover the City and County of Bristol. If my name is mentioned in anyway as connected to this group please let me know.
This one started off well with a great clickbait title: Big cat rumours after South West 'bloodbath' in woods https://www.devonlive.com/news/uk-world-news/big-cat-rumours-after-south-8980055
Want my assessment? Well you are going to get it anyway but first the item:
Rumours of a big cat stalking the countryside have surfaced after a walker described stumbling across a "bloodbath" in the woods. Photos showing crimson red blood on the wintry ground, messy animal remains and a lone pair of suspicious paw prints have surfaced from the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire.
The dog walker has also revealed she heard "weird growling" in the area the day before. She thought it might be a wild boar with a bad cough but the noise was too intense and rumbled across the ground. Though no firm sightings have been made of a beast it is enough for some to speculate that an oversized feline is roaming free and dining out el fresco on the local wildlife.
The photographs show a gruesome scene, with various internal organs strewn across the snow-covered grass. The photographs were taken by an off-duty nurse walking her dogs in the woods behind Kensley Lodge in Cinderford.
The nurse said: "As I followed the footpath taking my usual route, I went round the corner and saw this mess. It was a bloodbath, and I really couldn’t tell whether the remains were that of a deer or a sheep. I took a couple of photos and decided to get out there quickly," reports GloucestershireLive.
Warning, the following images may be distressing to some
"The day before I was in the same area and heard weird growling noises that sounded sort of like a saw coming out of the bushes as I approached with my dogs. I thought it sounded like a wild boar with a bad cough, but I could feel the noises through the ground vibrating on my feet. We didn’t walk any closer and left immediately.”
An expert in the field has chimed in to say winter is a good time to spot a big cat.
Carl Marshall, from award-winning hit documentary Panthera Britannia Declassified, said: “As autumn gives way to winter, there are a several things which can go in our favour, as researchers looking for big cats. Ground frosts can be problematic when it comes to tracking animals, but providing things don’t get too cold, some wintry weather can be very advantageous in the field.
"For example, wet weather can help wash away old animal tracks, whilst making the soil substrate soft enough to allow for accurate imprinting of fresh ones. The loss of foliage from trees during colder months significantly reduces cover for wild animals and ambush predators that might otherwise use dense shrubs and tree canopies to hide, which may provide us with greater opportunities to view them.
“Big cats have great camouflage, but this could be further compromised in the event of snowfall, particularly for any melanistic cats – a black panther will stand out like a sore thumb in a blizzard covered landscape. And we get the same effect in this new photo, it’s the contrast in colours between the bloody paw print and the snow, which really makes it jump out.”
Rumours of big cats roaming the South West are not new. Legends of the 'Beast of Bodmin' and the 'Beast of Exmoor' have long persisted. A map shows every big cat sighting in Devon and Cornwall since 2011.
First point is that the map mentioned in the last paragraph does not show "every" sighting and a lot of those reported on do not involve a "big cat" so it is just another piece of false information.
The people involved here make me automatically say "hoax" (on someone's part). The "kill site" looks like it is staged and, certainly how the image could distress anyone -where are the intestines and pawmarks? This looks almost like someone has watched too many crime or horror movies as it looks more as though a bag(s) containing liquid (that is not blood) was used to create "slops" or concentrated areas of red and the dripping looks exactly like that or someone flicked the liquid to make it look like a blood spurt or trail.
I can see boot tracks in the snow and no pawprints -which I would have thought would be a "must" for someone seeing this. No intestines as I mentioned before and absolutely no evidence of a 'slaughter' -this would be the cleanest "big cat" kill or feeding site in the history of "big cat" kill or feeding sites.
Also note that the "snow" is not new but compacting so it was there at least a few days and, oh, I asked the Met office apparently Gloucestershire has had no snow so far so when was this supposed to be?
Another odd factor: where were the police? If you were out walking your dog and found a bloody site like this would you take photos and go home and say "Hey, I found a big cat slaughter site!" No. The police would have to be informed and involved because a lot of 'blood' in a dog walking area is something they might be interested in. Think about it and missing dog walkers in 2023 alone.
Because you made a documentary you are not a "big cat" expert.
You have to be pretty uneducated on leopards , puma and lynx to believe the garbage being spouted and this is just another example of how, since the advent of the internet that should have made REAL data gathering easier and sharing and cooperation easier, it has become a fantasy world like many other subjects. There are no lengthy interviews with witnesses, no assessment of local food, water and food resources and there is a completely made up life style for puma and leopards that bears little resemblance to fact. Several cases involving photographs and videos of 'big cats' I contacted the 'researchers' over. I identified the animal involved and showed each diagnostic feature that proved it was not feline. The negative and often rude responses (I am always professional and polite) shows just how big a "this is my hobby" the subject has become.
We had DNA from a leopard and evidence of puma back in the 1990s and no one is in doubt that the cats are here (NOT in the hundreds but far, far less) except the "big cat" enthusiasts who are fighting the 'cover up' by police and government to prove the cats are here. How uneducated on a subject can you be -well, okay, any excuse to throw on all black or cammo gear and pose by a farm gate, right?
Red The Red Paper 2022 vol. II: Felids and get an education along with genuine photo evidence.
Kitchen sink exotic breeding at work for money and selling to idiots
Britain has a growing problem with obese pet snakes as owners overfeed them, experts have warned.
Some snakes only eat one big meal a year in the wild but in captivity are mcuh less active and are often fed weekly by novice owners.
This can lead to significant weight gain, which can shorten a snake’s lifespan.
Exotic pets are surging in popularity in Britain but with few official resources for advice, owners are often left without reliable sources of information.
Experts have warned that a rising number of well-meaning but ill-informed snake owners are feeding their animals on a timetable more attuned to mammalian pets such as dogs and cats.
Mark O’Shea, a professor of herpetology at the University of Wolverhampton, said that snakes were “feast or famine animals” that may often long periods of time between meals.
“Obesity is a problem in a lot of organisms. The owners may not recognise that they’re feeding their animal too much, it’s less obvious in snakes because people think a fat snake is a healthy snake,” he told the Telegraph.
“That’s not necessarily true, of course. They feed when the opportunity presents itself and then there’s a very prolonged period of resting because they don’t need to feed again for a long time.
“Big pythons generally have quite slow metabolisms, they don’t need as much food as a mammal.
“It’s your amateur who’s really got no one to reach out to that may buy a snake from the pet shop, find out what it eats and set up the enclosure but they don’t know how much they should be feeding.”
A survey this year by UK Pet Food suggested that there are approximately 700,000 pet snakes in Britain.
Snakes feed on live prey such as mice, rats and rabbits, and in the wild travel long distances and expend lots of energy before a meal, whereas in captivity they are often in a body-length glass cage where they can move very little.
How often a snake should be fed depends on the species, with some needing twice weekly feeds and others only needing larger but far more sporadic meals.
“A large python, or one of the big boas like green anaconda, can get by on one very large meal and then not eat for a year without any ill effects,” said Prof O’Shea.
Dr Steven Allain, a council member of the British Herpetological Society (BHS), added that snake obesity can often be a problem for inexperienced owners.
“Obesity is occurring in snakes as people do not always understand their needs and may wrongly assume that they need to be fed more frequently as required, more in line with other pets such as cats or dogs,” he said.
“This combined with a lower energy expenditure (if housed in a small vivarium) contributes towards snakes becoming obese.”
Snakes can sometimes also continuously eat, he said, because they do not know when their next meal is coming so will gorge themselves.
Prof O’Shea advises owners to “not be an island” and to join a community and ask for help from others to find the best care for a pet snake.
“Don’t just try and see if it works out. You should seek advice, and membership of a society, and go along to meetings,” he said.
“Talking to people who’ve already solved the problem that you’ve got in front of you is the best way forward.
“My advice is don’t buy snakes or any other animals on a whim and don’t buy on impulse in a pet store.
“It has to be thought out. You have to make a conscious decision. If you’ve got an animal in your care, it is in your care and you’re responsible for its well-being.”
Dr Allain advises that domestic keepers should find information on how to look after their snakes from reputable sources such as an exotic reptile vet, the Federation of British Herpetologists, International Herpetological Society or the BHS.
Results of all of the exotic "kitchen sink" breeding going on. We almost had it under control in the 1990s but..WTF is wrong with this ******* country and how it treats animals?
Face Book is one of the sources that people can find to purchase most types of exotics 'legally' by contacting breeders by "secure mobile app" -why so secretive if this is all legal?
An exotic pet monkey living in Wales had to be put down after animal rescuers found it suffering from a bone disease following months of mistreatment by her owners.
Precious, an 18-month-old marmoset, was seen “screaming and rolling around in a chaotic and unpredictable manner” when RSPCA officers searched the home of owners Jonathan Phillips, 54, and Laura Pittman, 52, a court heard.
The RSPCA said Precious was given no vitamin supplements or UV light, which maintain bone health, and fed a variety of ordinary household food including yoghurt and dried fruit.
The breed is meant to be fed “marmoset chow”, a commercially prepared diet, along with fresh fruit, vegetables and live insects, Merthyr Tydfil magistrates’ court was told.
A vet report said Precious was “dragging herself” and was “unable to climb or leap” and must have been lame for several weeks.
It was kept alone in their house in Ferndale, Rhondda, despite the species “having complex social needs”.
Phillips and Pittman admitted two Animal Welfare Act offences. They were each fined £350 and ordered to pay a £140 victim surcharge.
Phillips was also ordered to pay £966.71 costs and Pittman £965.21, while the couple were also banned from owning animals for 10 years.
Speaking after sentencing, Gemma Cooper, an RSPCA inspector, said: “This is a really sad story of a people buying an exotic animal on a whim and not knowing how to meet their needs.
“In their interview the defendants admitted they had not carried out any research before buying her and had been feeding her the wrong diet.”
Dr Ros Clubb, the RSPCA’s head of wildlife, added: “This is a heartbreaking case and Precious will undoubtedly have suffered horribly.
“Sadly we fear there are many more marmosets like Precious suffering behind closed doors because people do not know how to look after these animals properly and, as well as causing suffering to the animals, the owners risk falling foul of the law.
“That is why we, and other charities, are so concerned about the situation and wish to see the keeping and trade of primates as pets come to an end.
“Because of the specific needs of these animals their level of suffering can be extreme.
“As well as dietary and environmental needs, primates are highly social animals and they have extremely complex behavioural and social needs – but sadly in many cases they are being kept alone.
“They are wild animals that do not belong in people’s homes.”
It has been claimed by documentary makers that a DNA lab tested a hair and it was 99.9% positive for leopard. The question: why was there not 100% positive test results?
When it comes to labs that carry out DNA testing none declare that they do not want to be named. Firstly, publicity over testing can bring in business but none seem to want to hide who they are as that gives an indication that they are not confident in their testing. If the lab was paid to carry out a test on a hair sample then not naming the lab means that you have zero evidence. That is a fact as I can claim that I have 5 hair samples that tested positive at a DNA lab for snow leopard. I cannot name the lab. That means my claim is as valid as 99.9% positive for a leopard.
To make a scientific claim your evidence has to be available for peer review by another lab so any claims are null and void.
The other thing is that a lab provides you with data such as can be seen below. This is basic data to back up any claim.
Look at what it says with 7 in that list.
So we really need to see the DNA report for clarification of the test results since in the 1990s when I was working with UK police forces one search of a big cat sighting locale (inside a caravan/trailer) found one black hair and the lab checked and DNA was 100% panthera pardus -leopard. Other hair samples were also positively identified by DNA labs.
Below is something else that a DNA test lab will send. Again, this is something experts can check and then ask the lab for clarification on.
https://uk.yahoo.com/news/shock-giant-rodent-washes-beach-160000938.html
A beachgoer was shocked to spot a "giant" rodent washed up on the beach by strong winds during Storm Ciarán. Warning: Graphic images.
The creature was found dead on Hove beach near Rockwater after heavy rain and strong winds this morning.
It is about three foot long and reminiscent of a large rat, but with large yellow teeth like a beaver.
The beachgoer, from Brighton, who did not wish to be named, said he spotted the giant creature washed up at 1pm.
The Argus: The creature has large teeth like a beaver
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The creature has large teeth like a beaver (Image: Submitted)
"I thought it was a beaver at first but it is more likely coypu, which is an invasive species which can be found in Jersey," they said.
"I think it is about three foot long, including its tail."
The giant rat-like creature coypu, an invasive species, was eradicated from the UK in the 1980s due to the damage the species caused to land and crops.
The Argus: The creature next to a size 11 welly measuring around 30cm
The creature next to a size 11 welly measuring around 30cm (Image: Submitted)
The creature was first spotted in Jersey last October and, at the time, residents were advised not to approach it.
It was allegedly been spotted again earlier this year, with a sighting was reported to the government's natural environment team in April.
Professor Fiona Matthews, from the University of Sussex's school of life sciences, confirmed that the creature looks like a coypu, based on its tail and teeth.
Brighton and Hove City Council has been approached for comment regarding its disposal.
Someone read a press interview I did back in the 1990s in which I mentioned being offered a breeding pair of leopards for £1,500 and asked...
