Mysterious Times

Here’s a timeline of notable big cat sightings in the UK:

Late 1700s:

• 1790s: Reports of a large black cat, known as the “Beast of Bodmin,” emerge in the Bodmin Moor area of Cornwall. The creature is said to resemble a panther or puma.

Early 1900s:

• 1904: A mysterious big cat sighting is reported in Dartmoor, Devon. Witnesses describe a large, black, panther-like creature roaming the moors.
• 1905: The “Essex Lion” sighting occurs in Essex, where locals report seeing a lioness roaming the countryside. The sighting sparks a massive search operation, but no conclusive evidence is found.

1960s:

• 1961: The “Surrey Puma” sightings begin in the county of Surrey, with numerous reports of a large, black cat resembling a puma or panther.
• 1968: The “Beast of Exmoor” sightings commence in the Exmoor National Park area of Devon and Somerset. Witnesses report encounters with a large, black cat-like creature prowling the countryside.

1970s:

• 1976: The “Cumbria Panther” sightings occur in the Lake District, where residents report seeing a large, black cat resembling a panther or puma.
• 1977: The “Norfolk Puma” sightings begin in Norfolk, with reports of a large, black cat roaming the countryside.

1980s:

• 1980: The “Fen Tiger” sightings take place in the Cambridgeshire Fens, where witnesses report seeing a large, orange-colored cat resembling a tiger.
• 1985 Suffolk big-cat wave: A cluster of reports across west Suffolk included sightings around Elveden, RAF Honington, Thetford Forest and Barham Camp. Contemporary newspaper coverage documented five sightings within seven days, including reports from servicemen and a gamekeeper. Suffolk big-cat researcher Matt Salusbury has found no evidence for the supposed 1982 “Suffolk Panther” wave previously listed here; the date may represent a later conflation with these 1985 reports or an earlier, poorly documented scare around RAF Lakenheath.

1990s:

• 1995: The “Galloway Puma” sightings begin in Galloway, Scotland, with reports of a large, black cat-like creature roaming the countryside.
• 1997: The “Highland Tiger” sightings occur in the Scottish Highlands, where witnesses report seeing a large, cat-like creature resembling a tiger.

2000s:

• 2009: The “Dartmoor Beast” sightings resurface in Dartmoor, Devon, with reports of a large, black cat resembling a panther or puma.

2010s:

• 2011: The “Gloucestershire Big Cat” sightings occur in Gloucestershire, with reports of a large, black cat-like creature roaming the countryside.
• 2018: The “Surrey Puma” sightings resurface in Surrey, with reports of a large, black cat resembling a puma or panther.

2020s:

• 2021: The “Highland Tiger” sightings continue in the Scottish Highlands, with reports of a large, cat-like creature resembling a tiger.

These sightings represent just a selection of the numerous reports of big cat encounters in the UK over the years, sparking speculation and debate about the existence of large, exotic felines roaming the British countryside.

Correction, August 2026: An earlier version of this timeline listed a “Suffolk Panther” wave in 1982. Following correspondence with Suffolk big-cat researcher Matt Salusbury of Big Cats of Suffolk, we have been unable to substantiate a distinct 1982 wave. The entry has therefore been corrected to reflect the documented 1985 sightings. Our thanks to Matt for bringing this to our attention and sharing his research.