‘Big cat’ spotted in UK countryside as it ‘stalks sheep’ in front of holidaymakers

The sighting of a large black cat with a “very long and thick tail” was reported to Puma Watch North Wales in the belief a suspected panther was roaming on farmland between Llanfechell and Llanfairynghornwy

Holidaymakers got more than they bargained for whilst exploring the North Wales countryside. In a farm field situated in the northern part of Anglesey, they witnessed a sizeable black cat sporting a “very long and thick tail”.

The incident was subsequently reported to Puma Watch North Wales, with suspicions that a panther might be wandering the farmland between Llanfechell and Llanfairynghornwy. Travelling in a two-car convoy, passengers from both vehicles independently observed the mysterious creature on Friday evening, October 24.

This encounter follows an earlier report from July of a large black cat “stalking sheep” near Holyhead’s Premier Inn. As typically happens with such incidents, concrete proof wasn’t captured and the accounts go against expert analysis.

A visitor named Joe reported the most recent occurrence to Puma Watch, explaining: “I was returning from a nice day in the east of Anglesey with a group of friends, back towards our hotel in Llangefni, and I spotted a large black cat in a field beside the road.

“We weren’t traveling fast so I got a good look at him: much larger than a domestic cat, it looked to be as big as a Labrador-Retriever dog – only with a very long and thick tail.”, reports North Wales Live.

“I got a good view of the side of the animal for a few seconds including of its head as it looked towards the car. Unfortunately, neither of the other guys in our car saw it – they were chatting in the front seat and I was in the back!

“Thankfully however, when we got back to the hotel my other friend, who was traveling in a separate car, had also seen the very large cat at the same location.”

Big cats aren’t indigenous to Britain, but Puma Watch claims several have been roaming wild since the Dangerous Wild Animals Act of 1976 made it unlawful to keep them as pets without proper licensing. This prompted owners to abandon their animals in the countryside rather than face costly rehoming fees, according to the organisation.

The latest big cat sighting occurred in a remote part of north Anglesey, an area dominated by agricultural land and patches of woodland. As the crow flies, it’s fewer than eight miles from July’s encounter on Holyhead’s periphery.

Should it be the same creature, it would have had to traverse a bridge or causeway to travel from Holy Island.

Jo was responsible for July’s report near the Premier Inn, recounting: “We were driving past and spotted the cat stalking sheep it went behind a bush.

“We looped back but couldn’t see it. My husband spotted it first, then I saw it. It was large, black with pointy ears.”

The countryside surrounding Holyhead is abundant with rabbits and sheep, offering plentiful hunting prospects for a large feline, according to Puma Watch. The group noted: “This is not the first reported sighting in the area, with a ‘black panther’ being spotted just down the road in Trearddur Bay last year.”

The online reporting service explained that large felines like panthers and pumas are lone hunters with territories spanning dozens of miles.

Over the last five years, it has recorded eight reported encounters across Anglesey.

Puma Watch stated: “They’re mostly spotted in Snowdonia (Eryri) and the Clwydian hills. But reports of sightings in urban locations some distance from these areas are becoming more frequent.”

Many locals remain sceptical that a top predator is roaming free around Anglesey. After the most recent alleged encounter, one individual commented online: “That’s what 90% of people say when they see a domestic cat in an unexpected place.”