Big cat sightings

Freedom of Information Act request number: 2022-023

Version date: 21/01/2022 

The Performance Analysis Department have provided the following information:

1. In relation to the 2021 calendar year, on how many occasions were the police informed that there had been a sighting of a ‘big cat’, i.e. a wild cat, which was significantly larger than a domestic cat and was thought could have been a puma, leopard, lynx or other large member of the cat species? 

Could you please state how many of the sightings were confirmed to be (a) false, (b) true or (c) unable to be confirmed one way or the other.

2. In relation to the last three sightings that you logged in 2021, please provide me with a summary of the sighting. This should include (i) what was alleged to have been seen,  (ii) the location of the sighting and (iii) what if any police response there was to the sighting. 

Searches have been conducted using the keywords ‘big cat’ as well as ‘panther’, ‘leopard’, ‘puma’ and ‘lynx’ and whilst some results were returned, none relate to ‘big cats’, just names of places and similar.

Therefore, this is a nil return.