Big cat sightings reported in Cornwall and Wales

A holidaymaker in Newlyn, Cornwall, filmed a large black feline he described as almost the size of a panther as it walked across a field on the evening of 28 July. The observer, Wez Awad, said the animal lingered for about 15 minutes and covered several hundred metres before disappearing.

A wildlife photographer known only as Chris reported a similar encounter on the A470 near Trawsfynydd, Wales, on 21 July, claiming a panther crossed the road and fled into nearby undergrowth, possibly driven by a nearby wildfire. The sighting was logged with Puma Watch North Wales, which noted a surge in big‑cat reports, citing a 74 % increase in the first half of 2026. The organization has issued safety advice for hikers and dog walkers and is running a Big Cat Awareness Campaign throughout July.

Both incidents add to a series of recent reports, including an April encounter by a dog walker named Jan in the Llandudno area, highlighting ongoing public concern about large, non‑native cats roaming the British countryside.