Webcams to ‘capture’ big cats: Environment Agency 'catches' evaders
Big-cat investigators have come up with a plan which might capture the legendary Beast of Buchan – on camera. An investigative group, Big Cats in Britain (BCIB), wants to develop a Big Brother-style scheme to try to shoot footage of the elusive creatures on strategically placed cameras. A spokesman for the organisation said: “The webcam will mean that people will be able to go big cat spotting on their own home computer."
The Beast of Buchan, is a notorious black cat which has reputedly prowled Aberdeenshire for decades, is just one of the many creatures spotted by rural residents across the country. Between 2000 and 2006, there have been nearly 200 sightings of big cats reported by the public to Scottish police forces.
Grampian was the most active, with 55 reports, followed by Fife with 42. Both areas with relatively dry climates and wooded rural patches which are ideal habitats for wild cats. Other hotspots include Lothian with 30 sightings and Strathclyde with 27.
Big Cats in Britain said it has purchased the equipment and will have a system up and running as soon as it find the right locations. “We are appealing for people who own land where a big cat has been spotted on a regular basis to come forward and get involved.”
Locations of the cameras would be kept secret to avoid vandalism or hoaxes.
It is thought some of the creatures may have been descendants of animals released into the wild more than 30 years ago by owners who did not want to comply with the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1972. Others believe there is a native species of wild cat in Scotland which has not yet been identified.
Catching illegal anglers Courtesy: http://www.ecoangler.com/
Some 387 illegal anglers were caught at 948 waters across England and Wales between 24-26 May. Thanks to the use of mobile technology teams were better equipped than ever to acces rod licence databases to verify anglers says the Environment Agency, which notes evasion rates have continued to fall for the fourth year in a row.
Dafydd Evans, Head of Fisheries at the Environment Agency, said: “It great to see the message is sinking in with evading anglers, as the rate of evasion has dropped from just under 6% in the May 2007 blitz to less than 5% this time round. A small number of anglers believed a licence was valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. This is not case – all rod licences expire on 31 March.”
Last year, the Environment Agency invested around £30 million in improving fish stocks and angling opportunities, with some £20 million of this coming from rod licence fees.
Source: http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/
Web:http://www.scottishbigcats.co.uk/
http://www.britishbigcats.org/
Source: http://www.fishandfly.com/articles/20080609