Report from John Murray
Sightings of exotic mammals
From the DEFRA, October 2002
DEFRA records sightings of exotic mammals in England. Sightings
reported by the general public are a valued contribution to the
surveillance programme. The Department has a particular interest in
sightings of:
wild or feral boar
escapees from zoos or other animal collections
A map is available showing Indicative distribution of wild boar in
the England and Wales (based on surveys by MAFF, 1998)
To report a sighting please e-mail details to the Wildlife
Administration Unit (please quote: for the attention of Wildlife
Administration Unit - Exotic sighting). Reports can also be faxed or
posted. If you would like to discuss the sighting with one of our
advisory staff please contact the Wildlife Administration Unit who
will either assist you directly or put you in touch with a wildlife
management adviser.
Key details to include in reports:
Type of animal (e.g. wild boar)
Description of animal (e.g. colour, size, and any other identifying
features)
Type of sighting (e.g. visual, tracks or other indirect signs)
Date observed
Location (as precise as possible please)
Number of animals observed, or inferred from signs
Comments on behaviour or activity of animal
Your contact details (in some cases we may wish to contact you to
further discuss details of the sighting)
DEFRA staff do not normally carry out field enquiries in relation to
exotic sightings but can give advice over the telephone. Two
situations where field enquries may be considered appropriate are:
1 Significant agricultural damage attributed to wild boar (any threat
to human life should be reported to the police, while conservation
concerns should be referred to the DEFRA European Wildlife Division.
2 Livestock deaths attributed to 'big cats' (any threat to human life
should be reported to the police).
DEFRA Wildlife Administration Unit is located in Bristol.
Technical advice is provided by specialist wildlife advisers based in
each Government Office Region of England. The Administration Unit and
technical advisers are part of the National Wildlife Management Team.
DEFRA covers England.
WALES / CYMRU
If you live in Wales, please contact:
National Assembly for Wales
Agriculture Department
Food Farming Development Division
Yr Hen Ysgol Gymrag
Ffordd Alexandra
ABERYSTWYTH
Ceredigion
SY23 1LD
Tel: 01970 627 762
SCOTLAND
If you live in Scotland, please contact:
Environment and Rural Affairs Department (ERAD)
PEP2 Division
Branch 2- Agricultural Pollution, Pesticides and Pest Control
Pentland House
47 Robbs Loan
EDINBURGH
EH14 1TY
Tel: 0131 244 6360
Comment by Professor Alayne Street-Perrott, Swansea Exotic Cat Project
While applauding DEFRA's sudden apparent change of heart, I would like to urge everyone to report any encounters with exotic cats to a reputable private organization such as Scottish Big Cats or the Exotic Animals Register (01179-024807) AS WELL - DEFRA and their buddies in the Welsh Assembly Agriculture Dept. may well prove to be a black hole for data. At present the Aberystwyth office is telling even MPs and AMs that providing a summary of the data collected so far is altogether too time-consuming for their limited resources.
For Wales, we now have a detailed database set up in Swansea to record exotic cat sightings, possible livestock kills, etc. This is structured so that the aggregate data can be mapped and analysed in terms of their ecological, environmental and landscape implications, for eventual publication. No detailed information about individual incidents that is not already in the public domain (e.g. in the press) will be published without permission. You can make contact via exoticcatproject@swan.ac.uk or 07866-995809.
Alayne
October 2002
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