New big cat sightings reported in UK countryside – panther, leopard and lynx | UK | News
New details have emerged about alleged big cat sightings in the UK countryside after official records revealed reports of panthers, lynxes and other big cat predators roaming the Welsh countryside. Documents published by the Welsh Government Freedom of Information laws show the Wildlife Team recorded 13 alleged big cat sightings between January 2020 and December 2025.
Reports include claims of large black cats crossing roads, puma-like animals lurking in woodlands, and mysterious predators stalking livestock. Among the most notable cases was footage taken near Porthclais, near St Davids in Pembrokeshire, in July last year. The video shows a large animal standing in a field before running away behind an area of woodland as the camera approaches.
In another incident, a yard camera between Dolgellau and Machynlleth took photographs of what a witness believed might be a jaguar.
The footage prompted wildlife officers to consult experts from Dyfed-Powys Police and Chester Zoo. After comparing the images with images of their own jaguars, experts concluded that the animal was most likely an unusually large domestic cat.
Elsewhere, a family walking through woodland near Fairy Falls in Trefriw reported seeing a light-coloured animal resembling a puma sleeping on a tree branch.
Authorities also investigated reports linked to attacks on livestock near Haverfordwest after a “large light brown cat” was allegedly seen wandering through fields containing geese and sheep. Wildlife officers searched for physical evidence, including hair samples that could potentially be used for DNA testing.
An eyewitness described seeing an all-black cat, larger than an Alsatian dog, with a long tail carrying an arrow, right in front of a vehicle.
The recordings were released following a request for information about reports of so-called ghost cats held by the Welsh Government.
Although none of the sightings provide conclusive evidence that a breeding population of big cats exists in Wales, the documents reveal authorities are investigating reports that livestock may be at risk and physical evidence is available.
The Welsh Government said it had no official policy on alleged big cat sightings because such incidents did not need to be reported.
Stories of mysterious big cats have circulated in Britain for decades, with regular sightings reported from remote rural areas and national parks.
The latest revelations are likely to reignite the debate over whether some animals are simply misidentified pets or evidence that Britain’s most enduring wildlife mystery still has claws.
