Summary In this episode of the Borderline Podcast, Andrew Willox speaks with Paul Macdonald, the admin of the 10,000 strong, Big Cat Sightings Scotland Facebook group & Head of the Scottish Big Cat Research Team. They delve into the phenomenon of big cat sightings in Scotland, exploring personal experiences, the types of big cats reported, the impact of legislation on their populations, and the challenges of studying these elusive creatures. The conversation highlights the growing number of sightings and the importance of mapping these occurrences to understand the potential breeding populations in the wild. In this engaging conversation, Paul and Andrew delve into the complexities of big cat sightings in Scotland, discussing the adaptability of species, the quest for physical evidence, and the challenges of public perception and skepticism. They explore the importance of objectivity in reporting sightings, the differences in predation behavior between dogs and big cats, and the fear of ridicule that often prevents witnesses from coming forward. The discussion highlights the ongoing efforts to gather evidence and the hope for future recognition and conservation of these elusive animals. If you have had your own sighting and would like to report it please submit it to 'Big Cat sightings in Scotland' on Facebook by using the following link https://www.facebook.com/groups/BigCatsScotland/?ref=share Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Big Cat Sightings 02:59 Personal Sightings and Experiences 06:06 Understanding Big Cat Species 09:01 The Impact of the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 12:03 Mapping Sightings and Population Estimates 14:58 The Elusiveness of Big Cats 18:04 Environmental Factors Influencing Sightings 35:44 The Adaptability of Species in Scotland 37:06 Chasing Evidence: The Quest for DNA 39:36 Gathering Sightings and Physical Evidence 41:57 Challenges of Recognition and Funding 43:29 Skepticism and Misidentification 46:41 The Importance of Objectivity 48:34 Understanding Predation: Dogs vs. Big Cats 51:32 The Experience of a Sighting 54:57 The Fear of Ridicule in Reporting Sightings 01:00:03 The Future of Evidence Gathering 01:03:11 Conservation and Public Perception Keywords Big Cats, Scotland, Sightings, Black Leopard, Puma, Lynx, Dangerous Wild Animals Act, Wildlife Research, Breeding Population, Elusive Creatures, Scotland, big cats, wildlife, DNA evidence, conservation, skepticism, sightings, misidentification, species adaptability, public perception
