'Panther' like 'big cat' spotted in Somerset - Police confirm report of sighting
Date of alert:
Crime Ref:
Force:
Avon & Somerset Constabulary
The suspected big cat was sighted between the towns of Frome and Bruton in the Witham Friary area. Confirmation of the report came following a Freedom of Information request asking how many big cat sightings had been reported in the area during 2021.
It followed witness accounts of "caracals" and "pumas" roaming the countryside in Devon and Cornwall.
A man even claimed he had come "face to face" with one of the animals on Dartmoor.
The local constabulary was asked how many sightings had been reported in Somerset and Bath last year.
The force responded to say that they had searched their computer systems for any logs containing the term "big cat".
They noted that this would not capture all the large felines reported.
Some may have been recorded under more specific terms like "lynx" and "leopard".
Avon and Somerset Police said: "Following a search of call logs in 2021 for the text ‘big cat’, one report has been identified with a recorded location of either Somerset or Bath.
“In relation to the report identified, the description recorded was, 'large puma/panther type cat'.
"The location recorded was, 'Witham Friary area' within the Local Policing Area of Somerset East.
“The call was resolved without deployment by Avon and Somerset Police.
“No information regarding whether this was confirmed or not has been recorded."
