Northern Ireland Police Receive ‘Big Cats’ Reports Over Five Years
A freedom of information request shows police in Northern Ireland recorded eight reports of large wild cats between 2020 and 2024. Complainants described animals such as pumas, panthers and a lynx. None of the sightings resulted in confirmed captures or verified photographs.
Summary of reported sightings
- 28 May 2020, Co Tyrone: A caller said a black cat, believed to be a lynx, killed two kittens. The animal was described as about the size of a Labrador and moving toward nearby woods. Police did not attend the scene.
- 10 Aug 2020, Portadown area: A motorist reported a dark puma or panther stepping onto a verge. Officers checked the area but found no evidence and suggested livestock might explain the sighting.
- 10 Apr 2021, Hillsborough Forest Park: Witnesses reported a large black cat seen on two occasions. Police patrolled that evening but found no sign of a big cat.
- 8 Jul 2021, Castlerock, Co Derry: A caller reported a very large, puma-sized dark brown animal and said they had a photograph. Police visited but were unable to locate the creature.
- 28 Sep 2021, Armoy, Co Antrim: A sighting was reported two days after it occurred. The caller compared the animal’s size to a sheepdog and provided no image, so police did not respond.
- 8 Aug 2022, Desertmartin, Co Derry: A report described a “black panther” about three to four times larger than a domestic cat. The incident was also referred to the USPCA. Police did not attend.
- 8 Aug 2022, Ballymoney: A resident used binoculars to observe a large black cat in a field. He said he had seen the animal on multiple dates. Police did not respond to this report.
- 12 Oct 2024, Corbet, Co Down: A caller reported seeing a cat larger than a Labrador and asked for local confirmation. He also sought advice about carrying out lamping for foxes later that night.
Police actions and policy changes
Records show officers routinely patrolled reported locations before September 2021. After that date, routine patrols for such reports were dropped. Police say they will still act when public safety concerns arise.
Legal and safety advice
Police warned members of the public not to approach any animal they believe to be a dangerous wild cat. They advised recording the location and contacting police or the USPCA immediately.
Officers noted possible legal issues if a non-native species were released intentionally. Northern Ireland Environment Agency would lead on cases involving dangerous animals kept in private homes.
Requests from callers
On at least one occasion a landowner asked whether he could shoot a large cat on his property. Police advised that using a firearm on private land may be lawful if the person holds a valid firearms certificate and acts to protect livestock.
Context and follow-up
Over five years, Northern Ireland police received repeated yet unverified claims of big cats. None of the reported animals were recovered or independently confirmed.
Filmogaz.com will monitor official updates and further freedom of information disclosures about these reports.
