August 05, 2025 | Incident and Crime Statistics , Wildlife and Animal Welfare
Request Number: FOI/15149
Category: Incident and Crime Statistics - Wildlife
Subject: Big Cat Sightings
Request and Answer:
Your request for information has now been considered. In respect of Section 1(1)(a) of the Act we can confirm that the Police Service of Northern Ireland does hold information to which your request relates. The decision has been taken to disclose the following.
Request
Within the last 5 years, how many big cat sightings have been recorded within the counties of Northern Ireland? (This would exclude anything regarding domestic-size cats, with the report potentially mentioning either panther/black leopard, lynx or puma/mountain lion-type sightings/encounters)
Broken down by month and location if possible.
Could the approx. location of each sighting please be disclosed, as well as whether an officer followed-up, in-person, on the report - and if there was any outcome to the animal
Answer
Please see below table listing recorded big cat sightings within the last 5 years.
| Date | Report | Location | Police Follow Up? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10/08/20 | Caller reporting that his father has just informed him that he was in the above location just after 1500 hrs and a black puma/panther stepped out in front of his vehicle from the bushes on to the grass verge then stepped back in again seconds later - callers father is sure its a puma and has warned another female who was in the area. | PORTADOWN | CHECK THE ABOVE AREA. NO SIGN OF ANY LARGE CATS. THERE IS LIVESTOCK IN THE AREA. REPORTING PARTY (RP) HAS POSSIBLY SEEN A COW OR HORSE. |
| 28/05/20 | Caller states that a black cat believed to be a Lynx has just killed 2 of her kittens at the location. She saw the large cat roll around afterwards and then make it way towards the forest. Caller states the animal is about the size of a Labrador, and is concerned about local children in the area | POMEROY, CO. TYRONE | WE HAVE SPOKEN WITH THE REPORTING PERSON, SHE BELIEVES THIS CAT IS EITHER A LYNX OR A PUMA, APPROXIMATELY 5/6 FT LONG, WITH MUSCULAR LEGS, SHE IS TO PHONE POLICE IF SHE SEES IT AGAIN. |
| 10/04/21 | Caller states that she was driving past the incident address at 20:45hrs this evening and she seen what she describes as a Panther, caller states it was a very large black cat the size of a large dog and had a large tail. Caller states she seen it on two occasions at this time. Caller ask police to check the area due to risk to mop in the area. | HILLSBOROUGH FOREST PARK | CALLSIGN HAVE BEEN IN THE AREA ALL EVENING. NO SIGN OF ANY PANTHERS. |
| 08/07/21 | RP seen a very large puma sized cat like creature, dark brown in colour out the back of the properties here. States she has a picture of this if police require it as would be concerned. | CASTLEROCK, CO. LONDONDERRY | WE HAVE PATROLLED THE AREA AND CARRIED OUT A BEAT PATROL. THERE ARE NO PUMA LIKE ANIMALS THAT WE OBSERVED. I HAVE ALSO SPOKEN TO THE RP |
| 28/09/21 | Caller reporting that he had a big cat sighting - stated that it looked like a large puma and that he owns a sheep dog and this animal was much larger that a sheep dog - the caller said that it was still dark and he estimated that he was approx. 100 meters or less away from this animal in his vehicle - no dash cam or photographic evidence - recorded for info at this stage. | ARMOY, CO. ANTRIM | No. 2 day late report. |
| 08/08/22 | Caller reports on 05/08/22 at 20:30 what he thinks was a black panther. Caller reported it to the USPCA and they advised to inform police. Caller states it wasn't a domestic cat and was approx. 3-4 times larger. Further he could speak to council/ forest agency. Details logged. | DESERTMARTIN, LONDONDERRY | No |
| 08/08/22 | Caller reports that around 13:45 today he spotted a large black cat, around the size of a Panther/ Cougar/ Jaguar in a field adjacent to his address. He used binoculars to view it for a few minutes and to determine scale and size of the animal. He spotted it two Saturdays ago, one in the morning and once in the evening, then yesterday in the afternoon. He commented that some fields have been cut and this may provide less cover for small prey animals. | BALLYMONEY | No |
| 12/10/24 | RP believes he saw a black panther on his land at above location just before sunset. He states it was approx. 40yds from him, definitely a cat and "bigger than a Labrador". Wanted to know if there were any other sightings in the area, also said he was thinking of lamping foxes later & wanted to know what to do if he came across this again. Confirmed with dispatch no other reports or known sanctuaries/animal reserves in the area & that as long as RP is on his own land and has a firearms certificate then this should be fine on the basis of protecting his livestock. Advised to report any further sightings at the time. No Further Police Action (NFPA) pending further. | CORBET, CO. DOWN | No |