The Objectives of the Centre for Fortean Zoology’s Big Cat Study Group

Tuesday 31st May 2022

The Objectives of the Centre for Fortean Zoology’s Big Cat Study Group, regarding the presence of large, non-native, exotic felid species cryptically inhabiting the wilder areas of the British Isles, are: 

  1. To provide irrefutable evidence, establishing the continuing existence of feral/wild big cats roaming the British Isles. 
  2. Once irrefutable evidence is provided, to then help assure these animals’ long-term survival by establishing protective legislation and suitable conservation programmes. 
  3. To encourage professional standards of reporting and analysis of data and strive for improved standards of professional behaviour and pursuit of academic excellence amongst the British big cat research community. 
  4. To undertake fieldwork on a regular basis. 
  5. To freely publish data regardless of status and with complete transparency. 
  6. To better understand the British ecology of these elusive animals. 
  7. To establish a national resource centre where as much information as possible can be gathered together in one place and maid freely available  
  8. To provide an unbiased forum for discussion and a ‘neutral’ body for coordination and arbitration. 
  9. To examine any evidence submitted by organisations or by private individuals, whether it be photographic, testimonial, or biological, and freely provide scientific results. 
  10. To carry out drone surveillance of both contemporary and historical sites of significance in order to gather data for ecological forecasting models.
Jonathan Downes
Cryptozoologist, naturalist, musician, singer, composer, poet, novelist and Director of the Centre for Fortean Zoology since 1992. Jon was born in Portsmouth in 1959 and spent his infancy in Nigeria and his childhood in Hong Kong. His wife Corinna died of cancer in 2020, leaving him with two stepdaughters and a six year old granddaughter called Evelyn.