A panther, a leopard, and a Canadian lynx are among the big cat sightings reported in Wales, according to a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.
Fifteen "big cats" were reported to authorities in Wales between January 2020 and July 2025, the FOI submitted to the Welsh government revealed.
The apparent sightings occurred in locations spanning Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Powys, Swansea, Denbighshire, and Carmarthenshire.
One witness described seeing what they believed to be a panther leaping over a hedge onto the road in front of them while they were driving.
A leopard sighting was reported to Dyfed-Powys Police in Cwmtwrch, Swansea, on 16 January 2023, when the witness spotted a "leopard with spots walking around the garden while their dog was let out".
The report indicated that the dog did not respond and "security lights kept turning on as it was moving around".
No evidence was provided, and the report states that no action was taken after officials contacted the witness to discuss the matter further but were unable to reach them.
A sighting of a "panther" between Capel Bangor and Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, was reported to Dyfed Powys Police (DPP) on 30 May 2023, with the witness stating they were driving when they observed a "large black cat" come over a hedge and land on the road in front of them. The animal then "pounced across the road" before leaping over another hedge.
It was characterized as "jet black, smooth/short coat, muscular, long tail, and the size of a Labrador dog", and the witness said they would identify it as a panther after seeing an image of the animals online.
No action was taken following no other reports or sightings, and no livestock attacks were reported.
An apparent sighting of a Canadian lynx was reported to DPP on 13 May 2025 in Port Henri, Carmarthenshire, and no action was taken.
A "puma-sized cat" was also reported in Fairy Falls, Trefnant, Denbighshire on 25 October 2023, but no action was taken after an investigation by North Wales Police confirmed it was not a real cat.