In the year 1976 the Dangerous Wild Animals Act was introduced to tackle the increasing fashion of the late 1960's and early 1970's for people to keep exotic pets, which were all too often from the more dangerous species. It became unacceptable, simply from a public safety point of view, to be free to purchase an animal from the 'big cat' families, a crocodile, or venomous snake, without some form of control.
The Act's schedule designates the species covered, such as many primates, carnivores, bears, larger reptiles, dangerous spiders and scorpions. It is almost without doubt that the enactment of this law led to a number of releases into the countryside of the UK, which is widely believed to be the source of the many 'big cat' sightings today. Remarkably, now 30 years on, it is evident several of these species have adapted to our climate and still secretly thrive in many rural areas of the British Isles.
The manor at Curry Mallet, Somerset, was once home to many of these creatures that fell under this new law, including pumas, lynx, ocelots, and even alligators. As so often was the case, these now illegal animals simply 'disappeared' when the act was introduced, although local knowledge suggests all were released into the woodlands of the neighbouring Crimson Hill.
Sightings of big cats in the area, particularly pumas, have been fairly commonplace now for many years. There is also a strong belief within the local community that at least one alligator still survives. Indeed, evidence of missing pets and farm stock support this claim, however the only reported sightings have only ever been made by the same local farmer who unfortunately has since deceased.
Today, the mystery alligator has now become somewhat of a legend in the surrounding villages, and is known to the locals as 'The Beast of Crimson Hill'.
It is rarely talked about since the farmer died, and after first hearing the story several years ago we have recently decided to do some in-depth research and located the whereabouts of these sightings. Obviously, an ideal place for a 5/5 cache!
Please note, the above co-ordinates are as close to the cache as possible as GPS reception can be extremely poor.
Thanks to all those who have rated this cache! It is currently number 1 in the UK!
NO SPOILERS PLEASE
