Panthers, pumas and ‘lion-like’ beasts: police reports reveal wave of UK big cat sightings

Thursday 3rd July 2025

Panthers, pumas and ‘lion-like’ beasts: police reports reveal wave of UK big cat sightings

At least 13 sightings of so-called “big cats” have been reported across Devon and Cornwall in the past five years, according to official police …
Jonathan Downes
Cryptozoologist, naturalist, musician, singer, composer, poet, novelist and Director of the Centre for Fortean Zoology since 1992. Jon was born in Portsmouth in 1959 and spent his infancy in Nigeria and his childhood in Hong Kong. His wife Corinna died of cancer in 2020, leaving him with two stepdaughters and a six year old granddaughter called Evelyn.