Taxidermy, mammal mounted uncased, swamp cat, Felis chaus, found West Lane, Hayling Island, Havant, Hampshire, 1988

This specimen of a Swamp Cat, Felis chaus, (sometimes called a Jungle Cat or Reed Cat) was killed by a car in West Lane on Hayling Island, Hampshire, in July 1988. How it came to be there is a complete mystery as the species is normally found from Lower Egypt, through the Middle East, to most of Asia. 

The Swamp Cat is common in parts of India. Here it is found in a range of habitats including woodlands, reed beds and cornfields. It eats a variety of small mammals and birds and may even scavenge around human habitation but is not dangerous. Further reported sightings since this one was killed suggest that there may be at least one other animal still at large on Hayling Island