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Save the ‘British tiger’ 
Are there tigers, panthers and other big cats living wild in Britain? PETER FROST goes big-game hunting
The Iberian lynx is the closest surviving relative of the original British lynx, but is extremely rare [Joachim S Müller / Creative Commons]

SINCE lockdown in March of this year, the number of assorted big-cat sightings in the wild has reached new heights. 

Despite almost wall-to-wall virus stories, there have been reports of big cats of various descriptions on the prowl in Britain. 

With the coronavirus lockdown failing early on to lock down goats in Llandudno or alpacas in the West Country, and with various zoo escapes spreading panic, perhaps it’s no surprise that all sorts of curious wild-animal sightings have been reported. 

Feral cats are surprisingly common
Leopards are endangered and are listed as a ‘vulnerable’ species
A jungle cat in the wild (Pic: Dr Raju Kasambe / Creative Commons)
Britain’s native wild cat (Felis silvestris grampia) can be found in Scotland (Pic: Peter Trimming / Creative Commons)
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