Fresh details of alleged big cat sightings across the UK countryside have emerged after official records revealed reports of panthers, lynx and other large feline predators roaming rural Wales.
Official Records Released
Documents released by the Welsh Government under Freedom of Information laws show its Wildlife Team logged 13 alleged big cat sightings between January 2020 and December 2025. The reports include claims of large black cats crossing roads, puma-like animals lurking in woodland and mysterious predators stalking livestock.
Notable Incidents
Among the most striking cases was footage captured near Porthclais, close to St Davids in Pembrokeshire, in July last year. The video shows a large animal standing in a field before bolting behind a patch of woodland as the camera zooms in.
In another incident, a garden camera between Dolgellau and Machynlleth captured images of what a witness believed could be a jaguar. The sighting prompted wildlife officers to consult Dyfed-Powys Police and experts at Chester Zoo, who compared the footage with images of their own jaguars before concluding 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 asleep on a tree branch.
Livestock Attacks Investigated
Officials also investigated reports linked to attacks on livestock near Haverfordwest after a fawn-coloured large cat was allegedly seen stalking fields containing geese and sheep. Wildlife officers sought physical evidence, including hair samples that could potentially be used for DNA testing.
One eyewitness described seeing an all-black cat larger than an Alsatian dog with a long tail dart across a road directly in front of a vehicle.
Government Response
The records were released following a request for information about reports of so-called phantom cats held by the Welsh Government. While none of the sightings has provided conclusive evidence that a breeding population of big cats exists in Wales, the documents reveal that officials do investigate reports where livestock may be at risk and physical evidence is available.
The Welsh Government said it has no formal policy on alleged big cat sightings because there is no requirement for such incidents to be reported.
Ongoing Mystery
Stories of mystery big cats have circulated across Britain for decades, with sightings regularly reported from remote countryside areas and national parks. The latest disclosures are likely to reignite debate over whether some of the animals are simply misidentified domestic pets — or evidence that Britain's most enduring wildlife mystery still has claws.
