Big Cats On The Loose

Big cats “spotted on loose” in small area of UK countryside at least 50 times.

16:36 05 May 2016

Based on reported sightings, big cats resembling panthers, pumas or lynx could be staling the hills of North Wales. According to the figures released under the Freedom of Information Act, there have been 10 official reports made to the North Wales Police in the past five years. 

 

The big cats were reportedly spotted in places including Wrexham, Denbigh, Mold, Caernarfon and Llandudno.

 

However, some doubt the accuracy of the reports. Sgt Rob Taylor of North Wales Police’s  Rural Crime Team, tweeted: “Hmm, we have a report of a ‘big cat’ spotted near Llanberis. “We’ve disproved previous reports however!#nofurtherleads”

 

He added: "I'm not a fan of big cat sightings. Still yet to see any photo or video evidence of one.

"This day and age everyone carries a camera phone."

 

However Darren Millar, who was serving as Clwyd West AM, thinks otherwise. “Many owners of exotic cats such as pumas or lynx simply freed their animals into the countryside.

 

“There have been a number of sightings over the years of big cats in the Welsh countryside, including in Conwy and Denbighshire, with tracks having been found in the snow a few years back in the Clocaenog Forest and a number of farmers having lost livestock mysteriously which show signs of big cat type attacks.”