Acknowledgements

Leopard photographed in Kenya by Phil Crosby

This site is is a team effort and exists because of help from a large number of people:

We are particularily indebted to Leo Martin (previously of the BBC) for carrying out searches of newspaper archives for Scottish big cat sightings; to David Walker for his inspirational UK sightings maps and for sending the scan of the 1927 article on lynx in Inverness-shire; to David Witts, adviser to the Phoenix Exotic Wildlife Association for his invaluable advice; to Brenda and Rashid Butt for newspaper cuttings from Moray; to Nick Wirsten for reports from the Borders; to Neil Arnold for information concerning non-native cats in Kent; to Aaron Bowers for sharing his veterinary experience and sightings from Moray, to Reuel Chisholm for serving as Press Officer (2003), to Mike Inglis for serving as Sightings Co-ordinator (2002) and to Mark Fraser who served as Sightings Co-ordinator for five months in 2001.

We are also grateful to those journalists and newspapers who compiled reports which are included here with special thanks to Stephen Magee (BBC), Alan Crawford (Sunday Herald), Ralph Barnett and Gordon Berry (Dundee Courier and Dundee Evening Times), Jim Gilchrist (Scotsman), Morag Lindsay, Angela Taylor, John Thomson and Nichola Workman (Press & Journal), Steve Bain (Head of Photography, Press & Journal and Aberdeen Evening Express), Euan Duguid and James Millar (Sunday Post), Heather Greenaway (Sunday Mail), Catriona A. MacColl (Dunoon Observer and Argyllshire Standard), Scott Hussey (Daily Record) and Susan McReynolds (BBC Radio Foyle).

The members of the Non-native cat mailing list have been a constant source of useful information and expertise. In particular we would like to thank Phebe Cooper and Professor Alayne Street-Perrot (University of Wales (Swansea) Exotic Cat Research Group), and Craig Thomson (UK Wildlife) for their invaluable help and advice.

We are also grateful to the pupils and teachers of Kembach Primary School in Fife for their enthusiasm, interest, and above all their intelligent attitute concerning their local exotic cats.

Last, but certainly not least, a very special thanks to the hundreds of people who wrote, emailed or phoned to tell us of their cat encounterers and experiences, who sent newspaper cuttings, reports and who have devoted their valuable time to help us in innumerable ways. This site wouldn't exist without you.


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