[moffkalast]

A leopard? In Britain? It probably escaped from the zoo.

[masklinn]

A private collection seems more likely, unless it was a zoo closure and the zookeepers got fired before it was wound down a zoo would most likely alert the government.

[moffkalast]

Maybe it's two blokes in a leopard costume.

[thejohnconway]

Illegal exotic pets, more likely.

[throwaway38375]

This is one of the most likely theories IMHO.

A lot of sightings started at the end of the 70s, which would align with the introduction of this law:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dangerous_Wild_Animals_Act_197...

Rumour has it that lots of wealthy people simply released their "pets" into the wild rather than confirming with the laws!

Fairly certain there were documented cases of servants confirming this too.

[QuesnayJr]

Are you quoting Monty Python?

[moffkalast]

Apparently I have chosen a very un-obvious piece of cover.

[zeristor]

I wonder how many lynx there are in the countryside.

They’re not as charismatic, but they are native, and would be handy in regrowing native woodlands in Scotland.

[Cthulhu_]

Not as charismatic? Have you seen their absolute paws?